Direct Travel Insurance provides ski accident stats

by Richard Kilner

Story link: Direct Travel Insurance provides ski accident stats

Interest in skiing holidays may rise due to the prolonged wintery conditions, particularly as some French ski operators are cutting prices.

Direct Travel Insurance has reported that the Association of Mountain Doctors in France (Médecins de Montagne Résultats Nationaux 2008/2009) dealt with 140,000 injuries last year incurred on such holidays.

Amongst these were 16,439 collisions on slopes, with poorly adjusted boots and inadequate preparation to blame for the most severe knee injuries.

The Mountain Doctors have advised skiers to seek professional advice about the weather prior to skiing, especially when going off-piste, and to let someone else know where you are going if skiing solo.

In addition, the fitness required to ski or snowboard make three weeks physical preparation (or more) a good idea, and helmets are a must.

Travel insurance should cover Medical & Air ambulance costs, £2m personal liability, UK physiotherapy and Piste closure cover.

The advice echoes that the firm offered in October 2009 when Direct Travel Insurance stated that personal liability, physiotherapy, “Ski pack” cover (to cover the cost of ski school fees if injured) and Piste closure cover should all be included when getting insurance for a skiing holiday.