Winter season brings increase of injuries
An increase in casts and crutches have been seen around campus with the ski and snowboard season.
Beaver Mountain, the closest resort for students, has about three to four injuries involving college-age individuals each week, said Lynn Cooper, the resort’s patrol director.
“Students should remember that when they go skiing or snowboarding, it could cost a lot more than the lift ticket,” said Dr. James Davis of the Student Health and Wellness Center.
The clinic treats about six or seven students a week for ski and snowboard-related injuries.
Injuries have a wide range of costs, but most are several hundred dollars, Davis said. Students who are going to hit the slopes would be wise to be prepared with insurance, he said. Even without an actual card, health care institutions have electronic means of getting information, if, for example, a student is still on his parent’s insurance.
When skiers get injured, it often includes damaging the knees or tearing the ACL. Because snowboarders have their legs together at all times, they more likely sustain wrist, shoulder, hand, or elbow injuries, reports www.nutrition-factor.com.
Both skiers and snowboarders use their hands to catch themselves and often are treated for FOOSH, falling on outstretched hand.
“The bindings are different, but the injuries are not always so different,” Davis said.
Braden Merrill, an undeclared freshman, twisted his ankle doing a trick at Beaver last week.
“It’s no fun walking around on crutches,” he said. “But people are really nice. They hold the door open for me.”
Both skiers and boarders are susceptible to concussions.
Derek Gherkins, a junior in culinary arts, has broken his wrist twice and has had one concussion.
“I caught an edge and hit my head,” he said. “I got up and was all dazed and confused.”
Some students get hurt and do not ever go to a doctor.
“If it hurts for more than 24 hours and you cannot use it or walk on it, you should go see a professional,” Davis said.
He said that ignored damage can result in lifelong pain, loss of flexibility and loss of strength.
Fatalities are rare and the only death at Beaver Mountain was in the ’70s, said Cooper. Nationally however, an average of 38 people die per year skiing or snowboarding. In the 2002-03 season, fatalities included 31 skiers and 6 snowboarders.
Because most fatalities are caused by head injuries, the best protective wear is a helmet.
“The biggest change in skiing and snowboarding in the last five years is definitely the increase in the number of new people wearing helmets,” Cooper said.
Davis’ advice for injury prevention includes skiing or snowboarding within one’s ability, receiving knowledgeable instruction, and maintaining good vision.
“Also, ski or snowboard within the ability of those around you,” he said. “An expert shouldn’t speed down a beginner slope.”
Lesser injuries, such as the wrists for snowboarders, can be protected with wrist guards.
“There are wrist guards you can simply slip into your existing pair of gloves and those that sell with gloves as a built-in device,” according to www.nutrition-factor.com.
Wrist guards can be hard to come by in Logan. Norda’s Mountain Outfitters has braces to wear underneath the gloves selling for $18. Although Gart Sports does not have braces made specifically for snowboarding, they do sell roller blade wrist guards for $15.
Protective gear will help, but part of skiing or snowboarding is risking the chance of getting hurt.
“There is great snow this year,” Davis said. “Students should have fun, but have fun within limits.”
-ashschiller@cc.usu.edu