Transforming Emergency Care on the Slopes: A Study on the Integration of Nurses in Ski Patrol Teams

Abstract

Introduction

Traumatic injuries and medical emergencies are common in skiing and snowboarding, often occurring in remote alpine areas where ski patrols provide only basic trauma care. This pilot study, conducted at the Livigno Carosello 3000 Ski Area in Northern Italy, evaluated the impact of adding a healthcare-enhanced ski patrol team that included a critical care nurse and an on-call medical consultant.

Methods

A retrospective observational study compared rescue operations across 2 ski seasons: 2022–23 (basic team only) and 2023–24 (basic and enhanced team). Data were collected from all rescue operations conducted from Sundays to Thursdays, excluding logistical transports and refusals. Patient characteristics, injuries, treatments, evacuation methods, and dispositions were analyzed by season and by team composition.

Results

Among 595 cases (281 in Season 1, 314 in Season 2), the enhanced team managed 61% of rescues in Season 2 and handled significantly more medical emergencies (P<0.01). The enhanced team administered pharmacologic therapy in 27% of cases and applied spinal motion restriction more often (12 vs 2%; P<0.01). Their involvement also was associated with increased snowmobile evacuations (62 vs 49%; P<0.01) and decreased referrals to trauma clinics (48 vs 60%; P<0.01), alongside more on-site discharges and private transports (11 vs 5%; P<0.01).

Conclusions

Adding healthcare professionals to ski patrol teams improved case management, enabled prompt treatment, and optimized evacuation strategies. These findings support integrating clinical expertise into ski patrol operations and warrant further study of long-term impacts on system efficiency and patient outcomes.