Yes, although skiing is hugely popular, it is also a high-risk sport.
An avalanche at the French ski resort of Tignes buried nine people, at least four of whom lost their lives.
Reports say the avalanche occurred at an altitude of 2,100 meters. The local ski station issued a statement saying the avalanche was clearly triggered by a group of skiers higher up the mountain.
Skiing is hugely popular, but it is also a high-risk sport. It’s common for skiers venturing off-piste to encounter avalanches and lose their lives. Although such natural disasters as avalanches are unpredictable and happen by chance, we’d still like to offer some advice to skiers on how to respond when one occurs.
1. Avoid skiing outside designated areas or closed runs. Skiers should stay within controlled zones as much as possible. If you want to ski off-trail, be cautious and ideally go with an experienced guide.
2. Stay alert. After arriving on the mountain, skiers should first observe the surrounding snow for signs of collapse or cracking. On the snow surface, if you hear hollow sounds, be sure to prepare for precautions. Additionally, snowfall, rain, and continuously rising temperatures can also destabilize the base of snow piles, leading to disasters.
3. Try your best to stay on the surface. Skiers should try to ski on the sides of runs so that, in the event of an avalanche, there's a chance to remain on the surface and avoid being buried. During this process, you can discard your ski poles and use “swimming” techniques to move with the flow, or curl up like a log and roll to reduce bodily injury. Also, while trying to escape, grab branches along the way to force yourself to stop. Once buried, do your best to clear snow away from your nose and mouth to breathe fresh air. At the same time, take deep breaths to reduce chest pressure, thereby conserving your energy and waiting for rescue.
4. Bring essential equipment. Skiers should carry an avalanche transceiver, a probe, a shovel, and an avalanche airbag. A high-quality transceiver on the market costs about £200 (approximately RMB 1,877), which can be used to transmit the exact location of someone who is buried. Some high-tech jackets and outerwear today also have this positioning function. Foldable probes look a bit like tent poles and can be used to measure snow depth. Avalanche airbags inflate via a pull cord and are relatively expensive, with each costing over £500 (approximately RMB 4,693). When an avalanche occurs, the airbag inflates to help keep the buried person closer to the surface.
5. Purchase high-risk sports insurance for safety. Travel insurance includes emergency medical rescue coverage. In the event of an avalanche while skiing, the insurance company will provide emergency medical assistance and reimburse related medical expenses. Also, common injuries such as falls or fractures during skiing are covered under travel insurance. However, skiers should note that some travel insurance policies exclude high-risk sports like skiing. In such cases, you’ll need to purchase additional high-risk sports insurance to ensure full safety coverage.