The impact and sustainability of the prevention project 3! Winter Life Camp on young pupil’s knowledge on accident prevention and behaviour in winter alpine terrain

• Published in: Current Issues in Sport Science 2024-09, Vol.9 (4), p.3
• Main Authors: Bischofer, Theresa, Pocecco, Elena, Ruedl, Gerhard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: avalanche; injury prevention; safety knowledge; skiing; snowboarding
• ISSN: 2414-6641; 2414-6641
• DOI: 10.36950/2024.4ciss003

Introduction & Purpose Skiing, both on slopes and in backcountry terrain, is highly popular in Austria. However, this sport carries inherent risks of injuries considering numerous accidents occurring each year both on designated ski slopes and off-piste areas. During the 2021/22 winter season, the Austrian alpine police reported 4,613 ski-related injuries on slopes, including 27 fatalities, with Tyrol accounting for the highest percentage of these accidents at 41% (Österreichisches Kuratorium für Alpine Sicherheit [ÖKAS], 2022). Regarding off-piste skiing, Tyrol counted 163 individuals involved in avalanche accidents during that season, with 44% of individuals aged 11-30 years (ÖKAS, 2023). Research has shown that children and adolescents up to the age of 18 exhibit a lack of knowledge regarding safety regulations on ski slopes, such as those outlined by the International Ski Federation (FIS; Hildebrandt et al., 2016; Ruedl et al., 2018). Due to the hardly predictable nature of avalanches, various strategies are implemented to assess and mitigate risks. It is crucial to be well-informed, choose defensive routes, and engage in regular self-critical reflection (Deutscher Alpenverein [DAV], 2022). In the event of an avalanche burial, carrying complete avalanche emergency equipment (transceiver, shovel, and probe) is essential for immediate aid (Semmel, 2007). Nichols et al. (2018) found that experienced backcountry skiers and snowboarders, as well as those who had completed an avalanche course, were more likely to carry avalanche emergency equipment with them than beginners. Additionally, McCammon (2003) reported that 34% of individuals involved in avalanche accidents in the US had neither received avalanche training nor attended a pertinent course, with this group having the lowest mean age of about 24 years. In Tyrol, with a total of 9 districts, apart from the district of Lienz/East Tyrol, there is no regionwide youth prevention programme. The 3! Winter Life Camp project in Lienz district, initiated in 2006 by the Alpinkompetenzzentrum Osttirol, educates all 7th-graders of the district on winter sports safety. This one-day project includes age-adapted theoretical knowledge transfer in the classroom as well as practical exercises both on- and off-piste, covering risk assessment, emergency procedures, and FIS rules, aiming to raise awareness of winter sport risks and encourage further education. Previous research suggests preventive information campaigns con