The Challenge of Medical Services at Snow Venues

TRENTINO – The conditions of the facilities where the snow disciplines of the Winter Universiade are taking place require specially trained medical services.

According to FISU regulations, if an accident happens at any of the snow venues, medical teams must be prepared to proceed without problems to the injured athlete, offering primary care on the scene and, if necessary, dispatching him/her as quickly as possible to the hospital.

That implies to know perfectly the place, to know how to ski, and to have snowmobiles equipped with stretcher. Of course, an experienced driver is also required.

In Lago di Tesero, the venue hosting Biathlon, Cross-Country and Nordic Combined, a group of nine people, including nurses, doctors and volunteers, is responsible for providing rapid assistance to the athletes.

Andrea is the driver of the snowmobile: “I have been several years working as an alpine rescuer. To ride the skidoo no license is required, but personal experience is necessary.”

Italo, one of the nurses, highlights the importance of rapid transport to health facilities: “In case of an emergency, it takes maximum seven minutes to move the injured athlete to the hospital in Cavalese.”

Fortunately, they have not yet had to put their experience into practice as rescuers in the Universiade, as they have only served small lesions.

Javier Morales, FISU Young Reporter