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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Thomas V. Delaney, PhD¹, Robert Williams, MD², Jennifer Laurent, RN, PA³, Jennifer Gratton, RN⁴, Eliot Nelson, MD⁵, and Barry Heath, MD⁵. (1) Dept of Pediatrics, UVM College of Medicine, Winter Safety Program, Arnold 5, UHC, 1 South Prospect St., Burlington, VT 05401, 802-656-9192, thomas.delaney@uvm.edu, (2) Fletcher Allen Health Care, Dept. of Anesthesiology, 111 Colchester Ave, ACC West Pavilion 2, Burlington, VT 05401, (3) College of Nursing and Health Sciences, 105 Rowell Building, 106 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05401, (4) Trauma and Critical Care, Fletcher Allen Health Care, 111 Colchester Ave., Burlington, VT 05401, (5) Fletcher Allen Health Care, Vermont Children's Hospital, Arnold 5, UHC, 1 South Prospect St., Burlington, VT 05401

Purpose Every year in the Northeast, dozens of skiers and snowboarders become injured or lost in the backcountry. The purpose of the present study is to describe backcountry skiers' & snowboarders' perceptions of risk while traveling in remote areas, and to characterize the precautionary steps and safety equipment used by these individuals in wintertime.

Methods A brief interview was developed and pilot tested with a group of backcountry skiers and snowboarders from the University of Vermont community. On 12 different days during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 winter seasons, a total of 90 interviews were conducted at a popular backcountry entry point in northern Vermont.

Results Participants were 92% male, 69% were skiers, mean age was 31 and mean years experience skiing/snowboarding was 19. 69% believed that skiing/snowboarding in the backcountry was more dangerous than inside a resort, 15% reported having sustained a “moderate to serious” injury in the backcountry, and an additional 26% reported having had what they judged a “close call” with a serious injury while in the backcountry. 46% reported going unaccompanied into the backcountry; 26% had not notified a responsible person prior to setting out. The most frequent emergency supplies/equipment carried was a helmet (82%), water (29%), cellular phone/radio (26%), food (24%), compass (16%), lighter/fire starter (13%), extra clothes (11%), equipment repair kit (8%), first aid kit (5%), and signaling device (5%).

Conclusions Vermont backcountry skiers and snowboarders generally perceive themselves at elevated risk, but most are inadequately prepared for becoming stranded and/or injured in the backcountry.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe safety equipment used by backcountry skiers and snowboarders in a northestern state.
• Discuss the strengths and weaknesses in backcountry skiers' and snoboarders' preparation for setting out in wintertime.
• Identify the types of injuries that backcountry skiers and snowboarders have sustained in the past as well as those they belive thay are at greatest risk for.

Keywords: Injury Prevention, EMS/Trauma

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered