Daily News
(Dagens Nyheter 2013-02-23) brings our attention once again on the importance
of protection on the winter slopes. This time they have asked people, on the slopes,
directly. Four out of ten snowboarders and skiers, do not care about
protections. Compared to some years ago, that is a rather good figure. This
also shows in fewer serious head- and back injuries (see previous blog post …)
The
question is how do those who still don’t use protection when skiing, reason.
What makes them not use any protection? Is it because protections cost too
much? Is it because protections are uncomfortable? Or just because of old
habits?
”You have to be watchfull and check the slope
before you start, to make it a safer ride. Why I don’t wear a helmet? I haven’t
injured myself during the whole time I have skied”
”I take it easy when I ski now. I might need a
helmet, but when I skied earlier I didn’t so I won’t use one now”
The answers
from the interviews in the article show that old habits win, and that if you
haven’t been injured earlier, you won’t in the future. A resoning that is valid
only untill the day when the accident is evident.
What is
important to know, is that accidents seldom are caused by one person or the way
you ski or how watchfull you are and take it easy or not. It is rather about
small margins of error and unfortunate situations. A crash into someone that suddenly came out of
the grove, someone that suddenly falls in front of you, someone standing still
that suddenly emerges from behind the curve, a hidden rock or an icy spot.
”Most of those who come to us, didn’t have
controle” says Alf
Lerner, doctor and director of the medical center in Åre
To have
controle you must have a tremendous self-awareness and be able to realise all
the risk factors. För att ha kontroll måste man ha otrolig självinsikt och inse
alla olika riskfaktorer som finns. You should also consider your daily fitness,
good sleep, good food etc. Dehydration can also worsen your concentration
ability and makes it easier to loose controle.
You should
be prepared, an accident could happen. And that is why protections are so
important. In a serious accident, a helmet can see to that you get away with a
concussion instead of a cracked skull and a back protector can see to that you
get away with stretching and bruising instead of a serious fracture of your
spine.
