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Unchanged Fatality Rate on Austrian Ski Slopes during the COVID-19 Lockdown

Author

Listed:
  • Markus Posch

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Johannes Burtscher

    (Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Gerhard Ruedl

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Elena Pocecco

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Martin Burtscher

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
    Austrian Society for Alpine and High-Altitude Medicine, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

Abstract

Fatalities on ski slopes are very rare, with about one death per one million skier days. Whether the fatality rate is affected by substantial changes in the number of skier days and potentially associated alterations in the structure of the skier population is unknown. Thus, we compared the fatality rate on Austrian ski slopes in the winter season of 2020/21, when skiing activities were dramatically restricted during the COVID-19 lockdown, with those of the previous winter seasons. As a consequence of COVID-19 measures, the number of skier days dropped from over 50 million in previous years to 9.2 million skier days in the winter season of 2020/21. Still, the fatality rate (6.5 deaths/10 million skier days) was not different when compared to any of the seasons from 2011/12 to 2019/20. Despite the lack of international skiers and the reduction in skier days by more than 80%, the fatality rate remained surprisingly unchanged. The weather and snowfall conditions were on average comparable to those of previous winters, and, except for nationality, the composition of the skier population appears to have remained relatively unaltered. In conclusion, the fatality rate during downhill skiing is low and the absolute fatality numbers are primarily a function of the number of skier days.

Suggested Citation

  • Markus Posch & Johannes Burtscher & Gerhard Ruedl & Elena Pocecco & Martin Burtscher, 2022. "Unchanged Fatality Rate on Austrian Ski Slopes during the COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-7, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:13:p:7771-:d:847073
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin Niedermeier & Hannes Gatterer & Elena Pocecco & Anika Frühauf & Martin Faulhaber & Verena Menz & Johannes Burtscher & Markus Posch & Gerhard Ruedl & Martin Burtscher, 2019. "Mortality in Different Mountain Sports Activities Primarily Practiced in the Winter Season—A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Josef Niebauer & Martin Burtscher, 2021. "Sudden Cardiac Death Risk in Downhill Skiers and Mountain Hikers and Specific Prevention Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-7, February.
    3. Markus Posch & Alois Schranz & Manfred Lener & Martin Burtscher & Gerhard Ruedl, 2020. "Incidences of Fatalities on Austrian Ski Slopes: A 10-Year Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-8, April.
    4. Rafael Prieto Curiel & Humberto González Ramírez & Steven Richard Bishop, 2018. "A novel rare event approach to measure the randomness and concentration of road accidents," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(8), pages 1-18, August.
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    1. Gerhard Ruedl & Markus Posch & Katja Tecklenburg & Alois Schranz & Martin Faulhaber & Elena Pocecco & Martin Burtscher, 2022. "A Comparison of ACL Injury Risk, Ski Geometry and Standing Height Parameters between Skiers with Rented and with Owned Skis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-9, September.
    2. Elena Pocecco & Hamed Wafa & Johannes Burtscher & Peter Paal & Peter Plattner & Markus Posch & Gerhard Ruedl, 2022. "Mortality in Recreational Mountain-Biking in the Austrian Alps: A Retrospective Study over 16 Years," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-13, September.

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