Introduction: Skiing and snowboarding are two of the most popular sports in Switzerland, but their popularity means that the absolute number of injuries remains high. To plan and evaluate effective injury prevention, detailed insights into the injuries that occur are needed. Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize the current status (average winter season 2008-2012) and trends in injury rate (between 2005 and 2012) and fatality rate (between 2000 and 2014) among skiers and snowboarders in Switzerland. Materials/Methods: Injury data from different sources were collected and analyzed. Extrapolation and estimates were made based on a special household survey and insurance data. All fatal injuries were recorded in a separate database. Moreover, an annual survey on Swiss slopes was conducted that delivered different information about skiers and snowboarders in these areas. Skier days were collected by the Swiss Cableways. Results: The rate of sustaining an injury while skiing or snowboarding on Swiss slopes was 2.8 per 1000 skier days on average from 2008 to 2010. The fatality rate was 0.7 deaths per one million skier days in the same period of time. The injury rate remained relatively stable between 2005 and 2012, and the fatality rate has not changed since 2000. Discussion: Compared with other countries, the rates of injury or even fatality while skiing or snowboarding falls in the mid-range for Switzerland; however, further prevention efforts targeting behavior and conditions are needed to minimize and even reduce injuries.

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BackgroundAround 15% of the 100 000 injuries that occur on ski slopes in Switzerland affect the head. Protective helmets can reduce the incidence of head injuries. Bfu and national partners carried out the campaign ‘1000 injuries per day. Protect yourself with a helmet’ to motivate skiers and snowboarders to use a snow-sport helmet.ObjectiveTo evaluate the success of the campaign objectives.SettingSkiers and snowboarders at 20 ski resorts in Switzerland.ParticipantsBefore, during and after the campaign, 19 740 skiers and snowboarders were observed; 8820 were interviewed.InterventionQuantitative surveys: observations and interviews. Qualitative surveys: document analysis, qualitative interviews, analysis of the media, group discussion.Main outcome measurementsA concept, process, impact and outcome evaluation was done by an external specialised evaluation agency.ResultsThe measures are appropriate to the target of increasing the rate of helmet use. The main elements (posters, television advertisement, helmet testing days) of the campaign were implemented as planned. Hazard awareness and consciousness of vulnerability improved between the 2007 and 2010 winter seasons. The target value of the criterion ‘lacking comfort’ couldn't be obtained. The helmet wearing rate has greatly increased. The results show a small correlation between campaign recognition and helmet use.ConclusionThe rate of helmet use, hazard awareness and consciousness of vulnerability increased considerably. However, the impact of the campaign on the increases is unclear. First, the rate of helmet use had already risen after the first year of campaigning. Second, studies have shown that campaigns may raise awareness but not achieve behavioural change. Third, there is only a small correlation between campaign recognition and helmet use. The campaign has supported and strengthened the effect of various factors that have promoted helmet use. However, the reasons for the increase in helmet use are unknown.

Attempted suicide is a behavioural pattern with complex psychological and sociological determinants, many of which have been extensively studied in recent years. The basic facts of its changing incidence, its demography, and its place within a broader spectrum of self-destructive behaviour are well established but authorities are still divided on many issues related to its aetiology, its function in the individual and the kinds of services required for its clinical management. (Kessel 1965, Anderson 1974, Weissman 1974, Henderson and Williams 1974). The study reported here was designed partly to define the characteristics of a group of patients for whom clinical services were being planned and partly as a pilot study to develop a methodology for a more extensive controlled study which we hope to carry out next year. The preliminary findings are sufficiently interesting to report now.

The aim of this study is to examine the correlation between helmet use and on-slope ski conduct. During the months of February and March 2009, eight trained interviewers asked 1550 skiers and snowboarders at 20 ski resorts in the German and French speaking parts of Switzerland a series of questions. The skiers and snowboarders were asked about their reasons for wearing or not wearing a helmet and about their behavior and conduct on the slopes. Three categories of people were identified: (1) Helmet wearers, (2) those who do not wear a helmet but intend to buy one, and (3) those who do not wear a helmet and have no intention of buying one. After assessing the outcome of the survey by performing a variance analysis, significant differences were found between the self-reported on-slope conduct of the helmet wearers and those who choose not to wear a helmet. No difference in self-rated ski conduct was found between the two categories of people not wearing a helmet. A stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to compare the different control factors on self-reported risk behavior. To summarize, by becoming a helmet wearer, skiers and snowboarders tend to demonstrate a greater degree of willingness to take risks on the slopes. For this reason, the theory of risk compensation cannot be entirely ruled out. More importantly, however, independent variables such as age, gender, number of falls per day, or years of experience were found to make a far greater contribution toward helping us understand a person’s willingness to take risks while skiing or snowboarding.