Skiing is safer than you might expect. In fact, studies show that skiing is no more dangerous than other high-energy participation sports. According to the National Ski Areas Association:
Statistics on Skiing / Snowboarding Safety
Fatalities
During the past 10 years about 39.8 people have died skiing/snowboarding per year on average. In the 2007/08 season, 53 fatalities occurred out of the 60.5 million skier/snowboarder days. The rate of fatality converts to .88 per million skier/snowboarder visits.
Serious Injuries
Paraplegic, serious head and other serious injuries occur at the rate of about 43.6 per year. 2007/08 season, 41 serious injuries. The rate of serious injury is .68 per million skier/snowboarder visits. A skier/snowboarder visit represents one person visiting a ski area for all or any part of a day.
Skiing With a Helmet
Do helmets make a difference in terms of head injury and fatalities in skiing and snowboarding?
According to Jasper Shealy, professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y., who has studied ski related injuries for more than 30 years the use of helmet reduces the incidence of any head injury by 30 to 50 percent.
Studies show that Skiing is no more dangerous than other high-energy participation sports. I am not apologizing for, nor trying to minimize an inherent risk in the sport but - as I have always preached - attention to safe conduct (the Skiers' Resposibility Code), equipment maintenance (checking bindings and skis) and the use of a ski helmet can greatly reduce the risk of injury.
