Death in Downhill Skiing

Currently, there are about 200 ski resorts in Russia from Smolensk to Chukotka, which are located both in the low mountains (GC "Tyagacheva", "Sarochany", etc.), and in the middle mountains ("Abzakovo", "Bannoe Lake", etc. ) and highlands (regions of the Elbrus region, Dombay, Krasnaya Polyana, etc.). More than six million Russians go downhill skiing and snowboarding every year. Over the years, the quality of sports equipment and track equipment has changed significantly, which has led to an increase in speeds, an increase in injuries and a change in teaching methods. Currently, a large number of people die and are seriously injured at ski resorts every year due to the low quality of training in safe skiing, lack of control over the work of instructors, and the irresponsible attitude of the holders of ski resorts to the safety of providing services on the ski slopes.

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Sudden Cardiac Death Risk in Downhill Skiers and Mountain Hikers and Specific Prevention Strategies

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041621 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1621

Author(s):

Josef Niebauer ◽

Martin Burtscher

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Sudden Cardiac Death ◽

High Intensity ◽

Cardiac Death ◽

High Intensity Exercise ◽

Systemic Hypertension ◽

Physical Strain ◽

Mountainous Regions ◽

Downhill Skiing

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) still represents an unanticipated and catastrophic event eliciting from cardiac causes. SCD is the leading cause of non-traumatic deaths during downhill skiing and mountain hiking, related to the fact that these sports are very popular among elderly people. Annually, more than 40 million downhill skiers and mountain hikers/climbers visit mountainous regions of the Alps, including an increasing number of individuals with pre-existing chronic diseases. Data sets from two previously published case-control studies have been used to draw comparisons between the SCD risk of skiers and hikers. Data of interest included demographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors, medical history, physical activity, and additional symptoms and circumstances of sudden death for cases. To establish a potential connection between the SCD risk and sport-specific physical strain, data on cardiorespiratory responses to downhill skiing and mountain hiking, assessed in middle-aged men and women, have been included. It was demonstrated that previous myocardial infarction (MI) (odds ratio; 95% CI: 92.8; 22.8–379.1; p < 0.001) and systemic hypertension (9.0; 4.0–20.6; p < 0.001) were predominant risk factors for SCD in skiers, but previous MI (10.9; 3.8–30.9; p < 0.001) and metabolic disorders like hypercholesterolemia (3.4; 2.2–5.2; p < 0.001) and diabetes (7.4; 1.6–34.3; p < 0.001) in hikers. More weekly high-intensity exercise was protective in skiers (0.17; 0.04–0.74; p = 0.02), while larger amounts of mountain sports activities per year were protective in hikers (0.23; 0.1–0.4; <0.001). In conclusion, previous MI history represents the most important risk factor for SCD in recreational skiers and hikers as well, and adaptation to high-intensity exercise is especially important to prevent SCD in skiers. Moreover, the presented differences in risk factor patterns for SCDs and discussed requirements for physical fitness in skiers and hikers will help physicians to provide specifically targeted advice.

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Downhill Skiing: A Putative Model of Hypoxia Preconditioning?

Journal of Clinical & Experimental Cardiology ◽

10.4172/2155-9880.1000347 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 05 (10) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Martin Burtscher

Keyword(s):

Hypoxia Preconditioning ◽

Downhill Skiing

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ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICA L ACT IVITY OF MEMBERS OF THE HELICO PTER EMERGENCY MEDICA L SERVICE (HEMS)

Emergency Medical Service ◽

10.36740/emems202002103 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 91-98

Author(s):

Agata Gaździńska ◽

Paweł Jagielski ◽

Robert Gałązkowski

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Medical Service ◽

Helicopter Emergency Medical Service ◽

Team Members ◽

Winter Sport ◽

Study Population ◽

Downhill Skiing ◽

The Mean ◽

The Relationship ◽

Financial Issues

The aim: Assessment of physical activity of members of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. Material and methods: The study was conducted in a group of 131 people (65 paramedics, 66 pilots), members of HEMS teams from all bases in Poland, aged 27-59. The characteristics of physical activity was obtained using the author’s questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the study population was 42.73 ± 9.58 years. Pilots were significantly older than paramedics and had significantly higher BMI values (p < 0.05). No significant relationship between the age and BMI in the analyzed groups was found (p > 0.05), while the relationship between the frequency of physical activity and BMI was demonstrated. 70% of subjects undertook physical activity less than three times a week. The most frequently chosen forms were cycling, walking and swimming. Paramedics statistically significant more often than pilots chose wall climbing (p = 0.001). Downhill skiing (61%) was the most common declared winter sport played by pilots, while hiking in the mountains – by paramedics (49%). The most important reason for pilots to take up physical activity was concern for their health (47%), while for paramedics – the pleasure (63%). Paramedics statistically significant more often than pilots indicated a large number of other activities (90.6 vs. 74.2%) and financial issues (18.8 vs. 6.1%) as barriers that prevented more involvement in physical activities. Conclusions: The frequency of physical activity undertaken by HEMS members is insufficient. Low physical activity of HEMS team members has an adverse effect on their nutritional status. It is necessary to take initiatives to promote physical activity in this professional group.

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The Attractiveness of Selected Central European Countries for Winter Sports and Mountain Hiking

Turyzm ◽

10.2478/tour-2018-0004 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 35-40

Author(s):

Kinga Krzesiwo ◽

Kamila Ziółkowska-Weiss ◽

Michał Żemła

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

Mass Scale ◽

European Countries ◽

Mountainous Areas ◽

Winter Sports ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Central European ◽

Downhill Skiing ◽

Visegrad Group

Abstract Hiking, downhill skiing and snowboarding are among the most popular forms of active tourism in mountainous areas. Their popularity and their mass scale do not only result from the presence of the appropriate landscape, but also from its appropriate development. The objective of the article is to attempt to assess the attractiveness of selected Central European countries in terms of winter sports and mountain hiking, to consider the opinions of students who live in Visegrad Group countries, as well as to evaluate the barriers to development of their competitive offers. According to respondents, the most attractive countries for winter sports are Austria and Slovakia, and the least attractive are Hungary, Romania and Lithuania. In turn, according to the students, the best conditions for mountain hiking are in Slovakia, Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland. In addition, respondents from particular countries assessed domestic offers highly.

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