How to Stay Safe on the Slopes

If you know how to ski, you probably know the draw of the slopes. Snow beneath your feet and the wind blowing in your hair and the rush of speed as you glide down the mountain.

But as with any sport--particularly ones involving hurtling yourself downhill at high speeds--skiing and snowboarding have their own share of danger. The National Ski Areas Association, a trade group for ski area owners and operators, reports that over the past 10 years, an average of about 40 people have died each year in skiing or snowboarding accidents.

Although it's not an overwhelming number, hundreds more are injured each year. While there's no way to make skiing or snowboarding entirely safe, it is possible to minimize the risk of something bad happening while you undertake this invigorating and fun past-time.

Things You'll Need

• Skis and basic skiing skills
• Proper equipment, including straps to keep your equipment from making it down the hill without you

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Instructions

• 1

  Always stay in control.

  This is the No. 1 rule from the National Ski Areas Association. An out-of-control skier or snowboarder can be a danger to himself and everyone downslope.

  A corollary of this rule is that someone ahead of you has the right of way. So if you're flying down the hill and someone is taking lazy snowplow turns ahead of you--it is your responsibility to slow down and make sure you don't hit them or even cruise by them so fast you knock them off balance.

• 2

  Use equipment safely.

  If you are renting equipment, make sure your boots and bindings are properly fitted by professionals because ill-fitting equipment can lead to unnecessary accidents. And if you own your own equipment, check at least once a season to make sure everything's in top shape.

  It's also vital that you wear appropriate clothing for the locale. Spring skiing in California can lend itself to runs in jeans and sweaters, but colder climates require more layers, including wicking fabrics that will keep your skin dry even as you sweat and an outer layer to protect you from the wind. And don't forget to make sure your hands and head are adequately covered, and wear sunglasses and sunscreen when you're going to be exposed for long periods of time.

  This also extends to knowing the proper method for keeping your equipment on your person. Take advantage of devises that keep your equipment from running away from you if you're knocked down. These include everything from straps for your ski poles to clips for your gloves or mittens.

• 3

  Get the skills.

  To navigate on skis or a snowboard, you need instruction on the basics including how to safely fall down and get back up, how to stop without obstructing other skiers or snowboarders, and how to rejoin the flow of traffic once you restart.

  Beginner's lessons are a must for first-time trips, but even advanced skiers or snowboarders can make good use of a refresher course when they first head back to the mountain after months away. It never hurts to get some skilled advice on how to make the most of your time on the slopes.

  And make sure you know how to get onto and off of ski lifts, which can be a struggle for beginning skiers or snowboarders. Many newer lifts automatically slow down for loading and unloading, but if you're dealing with an older lift and are nervous about getting the timing right, lift operators may be willing to slow the pace so you make sure you get situated correctly.

• 4

  Consider a helmet.

  The use of helmets on ski slopes has jumped in recent years for everyone from first-timers to speedsters who know that a collision with a non-moving object could result in a devastating head injury, or worse.

  Nearly half of skiers or riders wore helmets during the 2008/2009 season, according to the National Ski Areas Association. The number jumped among children: three-quarters of skiers and riders under the age of 9 wear helmets while about 66 percent of skiers and riders between the ages of 10 and 14 wear them.

  But make sure the helmet doesn't spur you to reckless behavior. Jasper Shealy, a professor emeritus at the Rochester Institute of Technology who has studied ski injuries for almost 40 years, told the New York Times that if you hit a tree at "speeds common to skiing ... you will exceed the capacity of the helmet to save you."

  Shealy added, "The message is not: Don't wear a helmet. It is: Don't hit a tree."

• 5

  Get in shape before you get atop the mountain.

  Skiing and snowboarding are physically taxing activities that involve cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength and general coordination. If you decide to go skiing despite months of hard work in the couch-potato arena you could find yourself seriously sore after your first go, or even unable to navigate down a difficult slope.

• 6

  Follow the rules.

  Accidents happen when excited skiers and riders head onto closed trails and out-of-bound areas. A report in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that chances for injury increased when skiers had a high "readiness for risk" while the National Ski Areas Association reports that fatalities increase among populations engaging in high-risk behavior.

  So increase your chances of a safe day on the slopes; follow all posted signs and follow the rules of the slopes.

• 7

  If in doubt, get it checked out.

  A seemingly minor accident can have devastating consequences. Actress Natasha Richardson was killed in February 2009 after a fall while skiing on a beginner's trail at the Mont Tremblant resort in Quebec led to bleeding in her skull. Although the 45-year-old actress said she felt okay and refused immediate medical attention, autopsy later found that immediate treatment may have saved her life.