A winter getaway to the mountains for skiing, snowshoeing, hiking or sledding seems effortless and simple, not to mention fun. But talk to physicians, emergency medical technicians and ski patrol members who work in local mountain communities and it's clear: Dangers lurk, and some can kill.
That reality has been demonstrated, tragically, twice in the last month with the skiing deaths of politician/singer Sonny Bono in South Lake Tahoe last week and Michael Kennedy, son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, in Aspen, Colo., on New Year's Eve.
Not all accidents are preventable, of course, but health-care providers say many winter mishaps are brought on by lack of preparation, participation above ability level, Southern Californians' unfamiliarity with winter conditions or a combination of these factors. The day after Christmas, the wait for medical attention in the emergency department of Bear Valley Community Hospital, half a mile from the slopes of Snow Summit Mountain Resort in Big Bear Lake, was at least three hours, said a paramedic. And many waiting for medical attention were tourists participating in winter sports.
Weekend after weekend, Dr. Tina Haller-Wade, a family physician at Frazier Mountain Community Health Center in Frazier Park, north of Los Angeles, sees her share of ailing travelers too. She counted off a recent roster of patients: the sledder who missed the trail and hit a tree; the cross-country skier who fractured a hip; knee problems and ankle sprains from skiing; and countless lacerations. Other injuries included frostbite and concussions from falls.
Preparing for the cold is the first crucial step, Haller-Wade said. If travelers did that, many could spare themselves a trip to the hospital or urgent care clinic. It is not uncommon for weekend visitors to Haller-Wade's snowy area to come up from L.A. in T-shirts and short-sleeve shirts. "A lot don't wear gloves," she said.
Travelers should cover exposed skin to prevent frostbite. Hands and feet, ears and face, especially the tip of the nose, most often are affected
There are other simple measures that can go a long way toward winter sports safety, said Rick Strasser, a member of the ski patrol at Mountain High Ski Resort in Wrightwood and a Barstow firefighter. Eating regularly and nutritiously and staying hydrated is wise, he said. Don't drink alcoholic beverages and then try to ski or participate in other winter sports.
