Qualified rescue by ski patrols -- safety for the skier.

This study aims to determine whether the training of ski-patrol teams is still adequate in view of a marked change in injury patterns. All accidents which occurred during two winter seasons (n = 579, 583 patients) in the Oberwallis ski area in Switzerland are analysed retrospectively. As the analysis of the accidents' data are similar to other studies and first aid training is standardised throughout Switzerland, the results of this study can be viewed as representative for other areas of Switzerland. The generally high level of training is reflected by the accuracy of "on-scene" diagnoses: 77.5 % were "correct", 12 % "mainly correct". In the remainder, the most frequent problems were underestimation or failure of recognition of multiple injuries (n = 25), head injury (n = 10), injuries to the trunk (n = 9) and to the spine (n = 7). Special emphasis on these topics during the training of ski patrols should result in the further improvement in on-scene first aid and rescue.