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Purpose:
- The Winter Sports Brain Injury Program (WSBIP) is an international effort that integrates the efforts of the ski industry, the safety equipment manufacturers, and the scientific communities.
- The overall goal is to reduce the incidence and societal impact of brain injury acquired through winter sports.
Dissemination:
- A critical component of the WSBIP is its Education and Training Curriculum. This program trains ski patrollers and emergency response personnel in the recognition and management of brain injury in winter sports and recreational activities.
- During the 2001-2002 ski season, over 750 patrollers in the
Southern, Eastern, and European Divisions of the National Ski Patrol were
trained using this information, and integrated it into their slopeside
management protocols.
Collaborations:
- Solid relationships have been established with the National Ski Patrol (NSP), National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), and Brain Injury Association, Inc. (BIA), which will serve as the primary vehicles for distribution.
- All supporting organizations share a mutual goal in improving the overall safety and recreational experience of winter sports.
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Future Directions:
- The WSBIP will continue to regionalize dissemination of the training program with support of the NSP and NSAA through the 2002-2003 ski season.
- The WSBIP is collaborating with the International Olympic Organizing Committee to develop appropriate risk management strategies for the 2006 Winter Olympics (Torino) and subsequent public winter sports activities.
Slopeside Assessment Tool:
The WSBIP has developed an assessment tool for the recognition of brain injury in winter sports which is included in the training and education program. The primary audience is ski patrollers and health care professionals at winter sports complexes. *This information was modified with permission from the American Academy of Neurology.
Download the Slopeside Assessment Tool here
(Requires Adobe
Acrobat Reader)
Download "Concussion in Winter Sports" presentation
(Requires Microsoft PowerPoint. Right-click on the link above and choose "Save Target As..." to
save to your hard drive.)
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