UK: Claims double as families hit slopes over half term

10 Feb 2017

• One in five parents said their children do not wear helmets
• The average cost of a skiing or snowboarding claim is around £900
• Most accidents on the slopes happen in France, followed by Austria and Italy.

February half term is the most dangerous time of the year for a trip to the slopes with almost twice the average number of winter sports claims that week compared to the rest of the ski season, according to Aviva claims data.

The average cost of a skiing or snowboarding claim is around £900. The most expensive winter sports claim paid out by travel insurer Aviva in recent years was for a customer who suffered a hip injury while skiing in Austria, the cost of which was over £17,000.

Most accidents on the slopes happen in France, followed by Austria and Italy. The USA is the most expensive place to have an accident with the average cost of a claim there being over £2,000.

Kate Niven, travel underwriting manager for Aviva, said: 'Even the most competent skiers and snowboarders are injured in collisions which take place every day on the slopes. The cost of medical treatment for an accident on the slopes - even for minor injuries - can run into the hundreds and thousands of pounds. The cost of bringing someone with a damaged spinal cord home to the UK by air ambulance could be in the region of £20,000 from Europe, or even as much as £80,000 from the United States.'

In a survey by the travel insurer, of parents who take their family on a winter sports holiday, one in five said their children did not wear a helmet on the slopes.

Kate continued:'If your children are hitting the slopes this half term wearing a helmet should be essential. Getting them used it to it early will ensure it becomes standard practice. Some resorts enforce the use of helmets for children so it's well worth checking their guidelines.'

Aviva's advice for staying safe on the slopes

1. Check your insurance covers you for winter sports.
2. Take lessons if you've never skied before.
3. Check your skiing equipment is in good order and fits you correctly.
4. Wear a helmet.
5. Carry a fully charged mobile phone with you.
6. Ski or snowboard to your skill level.
7. Obey warning signs - especially during avalanche season.
8. Only go off-piste if you are authorised to do so and are with a qualified guide.
9. Don't drink and ski.
10. Take an EHIC card.*

Winter Sports cover is an optional add-on to Aviva's standard travel insurance policy, so you can't buy it alone. It extends the standard cover for medical emergency and associated costs and includes winter sports equipment. On a single trip policy, the cover is for the duration of the policy, on annual multi-trip policies the cover is provided for up to 31 days during the year. There is a £50 excess on claims for medical expenses and Winter Sports Equipment, which is not waived by using the EHIC.

Aviva has published a guide to 'ski hacks' on its website, helping families prepare before hitting the slopes: http://www.aviva.co.uk/life/family-life/ski-hacks/

Ends

If you are a journalist and would like further information, please contact:

Katy Hurren | 07800 692548 | katy.hurren@aviva.com | @Katy_Hurren

Methodology:

Based on Aviva claims data, 01 January 2011 to 31 December 2015 (inclusive).

22% of parents said their children do not wear helmets - Based on research commissioned by Aviva in a 2015 One Poll survey of over 1,000 parents who go on winter sports holidays with their children (aged 0-16 years old).

*An EHIC card still offers state-provided emergency medical treatment in EEA countries. However, the level of treatment varies between countries and it may not cover all the same services which are free through the NHS. It wouldn't provide the same level of protection that insurance does and would not cover a rescue from a mountain top or repatriation.

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