First Aid Following a Skiing Accident
Skiing is a lot of fun and it makes for a great outdoor activity. Families can head out for a skiing trip during the holidays as a way of bonding and spending time together. Love birds can also use the trip to connect and get to know each other as they enjoy the best that nature has to offer.
The adrenaline rush brought about when one hits the slopes is, however, not without risk as one could get injured when an accident occurs high up on the mountains. This, however, is not to scare you from your favorite outdoor adventure as with the right precautionary measures, you can safely enjoy your skiing trip.
To be on the safe side, however, one needs to prepare for such eventualities and this is what you need to do when you come across an accident or when get involved in one yourself while you are on the slopes.
Clear the danger
When you come across a skiing accident, the first thing you need to do is to try and warn other skiers that an accident has just happened in the area.
Without doing so, you could put yourself and the injured person in danger as other skiers unaware that an accident has occurred will be approaching the area at full speed and they could hit you and harm you.
You should, therefore, try and alert approaching skiers of the accident by placing crossed skies or planting a snowboard near the injured person.
Respond quickly
Skiing injuries can be fatal and as such, you need to respond quickly and offer first aid to the injured skier. Those trained in Standard First Aid are best-placed to provide the needed attention to those who get injured when skiing as they wait for rescue services.
Check if the injured person is breathing by tilting the head and lifting the chin and if they aren’t, send a bystander to call 911 and start CPR. If the injured skier is breathing properly, then monitor and stay with the injured person and as you wait for rescue services. Check for signs of bleeding and apply direct pressure on the injured part so as to stop the bleeding.
Call Emergency Services
You have to alert rescue services and EMS and let them know that an accident has occurred and someone has been injured. Clearly state if the person is responsive and breathing and the number of people who have been injured so as to help the emergency services prepare adequately for the rescue operation.
Give them your exact location so as to help them get to you in the shortest time possible. It is for this reason why you need your phone with you when skiing so as to make it easy to get help when you get involved or when you come across an accident on the slopes.
