Deaths associated with skiing in Australia: a 32-year study of cases from the Snowy Mountains

Med J Aust. 1988 Dec;149(11-12):615-8. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1988.tb120803.x.

Abstract

We present the first study of skiing-related deaths in Australia--a 32-year study of skiing-related deaths in the Snowy Mountains. We have reported 29 such cases; eight subjects died of trauma, 15 subjects died of cardiovascular causes, and six subjects died of hypothermia. The over-all incidence of death was 0.87 deaths per million skier-days; the specific incidence for trauma-related deaths was 0.24 deaths per million skier-days; for cardiac-related deaths was 0.45 deaths per million skier-days; and for hypothermia-related deaths was 0.18 deaths per million skier-days. These findings compare most-favourably with US figures. Death that is associated with skiing in the Snowy Mountains is a rare event.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
  • Athletic Injuries / mortality*
  • Coronary Disease / etiology
  • Coronary Disease / mortality*
  • Death Certificates
  • Death, Sudden / epidemiology*
  • Death, Sudden / etiology
  • Epidemiologic Methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypothermia / etiology
  • Hypothermia / mortality*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • New South Wales
  • Skiing*