Childrens' Safety on the Ski Slopes

The best way to ensure that your child enjoys skiing and comes home in one piece is to ensure that they know the "Rules of Conduct" – See opposite:

The most important thing is to look where you are going, always be aware of what is going on above and below you and if you are unsure of your skills in negotiating any run, ski down the side rather than down the middle.  The sides of a run are often much less crowded and this usually allows for a little more stopping time if you do get out of control!

Clothing - Being correctly dressed with the appropriate protective clothing, and well fitted skis and boots means that if you do take a tumble you will be well protected and back up on your skis in no time at all.

A Helmet - Most accidents involving kids are caused by other skiers not paying attention or being reckless. A helmet is a sensible piece of safety gear both for the beginner and the experienced skier. In Italy it is now compulsory for all children under the age of 14 to wear a helmet. This is the same in the American resorts of Crested Butte and Vail, where children under the age of 13yrs must wear helmets on the slopes. The resorts of Heavenly and Shawnee Mountain, both also in America, strongly recommend helmets for under 13's, but is it ultimately left to the parents’ discretion. All the ski schools in the above mentioned resorts also insist that under 13's wear helmets in their lessons. No doubt other countries will follow suit in the next few years.

Eye Protection - The sun is strong at high altitudes, it reflects off the snow and glares from every direction. Protect your children’s eyes with goggles and sunglasses, which provide 100% UV protection.

Skiers Rules Of Conduct

The FIS (International Ski Federation) has established ten rules for the conduct for skiers and snowboarders which should be followed at all times

1. RESPECT FOR OTHERS - Behave in such a way that you do not endanger others.

2. CONTROL OF SPEED AND SKIING – Be in control and adapt your speed and manner of skiing to your ability and the prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and weather, as well as to the density of other skiers.

3. CHOICE OF ROUTE - Choose your route in such a way that, when coming from behind, you do not endanger others ahead.

4. OVERTAKING - Make sure that you leave enough room when overtaking others for any voluntary or involuntary movements that they may make.

5. ENTERING AND STARTING - When entering a marked run, or starting again after stopping, make sure that you look both up and down the run to ensure that you can do so without endangering yourself or other skiers.

6. STOPPING - Unless absolutely necessary, you must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow places or where visibility is restricted.

7. CLIMBING AND DESCENDING ON FOOT -When climbing or descending on foot, you must keep to the sides of the piste.

8. RESPECT FOR SIGNALS AND MARKINGS -You must obey all signals and markings.

9. ASSISTANCE - If an accident occurs, every skier is duty bound to assist.

10. IDENTIFICATION - Following an accident, every skier and witness, whether responsible or not for causing the accident, must exchange names and addresses.

SPEED AND SAFETY

Travelling at high speed is one of the great attractions of skiing for children. But speed brings with it an element of danger. Always be aware of this:

• Keep your speed down on crowded slopes.
•  Keep your speed down in bad weather. 
• Keep your speed down if you are tired. 
• Keep your speed down around blind corners or over drop-offs.
• Give other skiers a wide berth: even if you don't hit them, you may scare them. 
• Never ski beyond the limits of your equipment.