The most common winter sports injuries have been revealed – along with the most expensive countries for medical assistance should it happen to you.
Holidaymakers are warned by leading insurer, Aviva, to stay vigilant this season, as new data highlights the potentially steep medical costs accidents and injuries could incur abroad.
Suffering a broken leg is the most common injury people sustain while travelling, followed by a broken arm and a head injury.
Despite these being the most common injuries, a pelvic injury remains the most expensive – this is due to complications that can arise when treating this type of injury.
At an average of £8,354, a pelvic injury typically costs triple that of a back injury at £2,410.
Costs vary from country to country, but according to Aviva, the USA and Andorra jointly have the most expensive winter sports medical claims on average.
The US, for example, has seen a 55 per cent rise in medical assistance costs, with the average claim increasing from £6,877 to £10,648 in the last few years.
The second most expensive country for medical assistance is Canada, with average claims costing £8,651, following by Austria at £3,143, Italy at £2,705, Switzerland at £2,160, Sweden at £1,831, and France at £1,831.
Holidaymakers are warned by leading insurer, Aviva, to stay vigilant this season, as new data highlights the potentially steep medical costs accidents and injuries could incur abroad
The USA (pictured: Lake Tahoe) and Andorra jointly have the most expensive winter sports medical claims on average
Ranking ninth is Finland, with an average claim costing £984, and rounding the top ten is Bulgaria at £710.
Despite the high costs associated with these injuries, more than one in 10 holidaymakers admit to going abroad without purchasing travel insurance.
In light of this, Aviva encourages travellers to check they have adequate travel insurance cover in place for winter sports activities, along with choosing the correct fitting equipment, knowing your limits – and going easy on the après-ski.
James Devereux, Travel Manager at Aviva, said: ‘November marks the start of winter sports season and it’s a time many will look forward to all-year round.
‘Though exciting, winter sports trips can often come with more risk than a standard beach holiday which is why it’s important to check that you have the right level of cover for your needs.
‘In some instances, you may need to add “Winter Sports Cover” to your standard travel insurance policy.
‘This not only provides cover while you’re taking part in winter sports activities, but it also provides additional protection against things like theft, piste closure and avalanche delay, on top of medical treatment.’
He added: ‘Travel insurance is there to support you in case of unexpected emergencies – whether that’s an accident on the slopes, like a fall or collision, or something that happens before you travel and disrupts your plans.’
The second most expensive country for medical assistance is Canada (pictured: Alberta), with average claims costing £8,651
Ranking third is Austria (pictured: St. Anton am Arlberg), with claims costing £3,143
It comes after experts revealed where to find the world’s softest snow this winter.
Jim N R Dale, ex-Royal Navy meteorologist and founder of British Weather Services, worked with Inghams Ski to analyse the best ski conditions – and where to find the best powder snow.
And it’s Westendorf, Austria, that’s been named the global leader for the world’s best powder snow, beating popular Italian and French destinations.
Westendorf has easy access to both the Kitzbühel and SkiWelt Regions, and got a impressive score of 84.8, coming top of the list.
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