Safety on the slopes - how to look after yourself and others?

Skiers should prepare for ski days before the season. Just as they choose the right ski equipment and clothing, they should find and choose a ski resort and a piste that suits their skiing skills. Let's also remember that skiing is only allowed on groomed and marked pistes, never off-piste. It is strictly forbidden to ski under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as such skiing is dangerous to your own life as well as to the lives of other skiers on the slopes. It is also important that each skier is always aware of his/her equipment. Never take off your skis and leave them in the middle of the piste, but always at the edge.

10 rules for a safe day on the slopes

The FIS has prepared 10 rules that all skiers must follow on the slopes:

1. Every skier must ski in such a way that they do not endanger anyone.
2. A skier must always ski in such a way that he or she can stop in time in case of danger.
3. A skier coming from behind must always adjust his skiing to the skiers in front of him.
4. Overtaking is allowed from all sides, but only if there is enough room.
5. A skier joining a ski slope must take into account all skiers already on the slope.
6. It is not permitted to stop on narrow and impassable parts of the piste. A skier who falls on such a part of the  piste must retreat as quickly as possible or point out his/her position.
7. Only at the edge of the piste is it permitted to climb.
8. The skier must observe all the signals on the ski slope (e.g. closed slope, etc.).
9. Every skier is obliged to help in case of an accident.
10. In the event of an accident, each skier must legitimise himself.

Schoolboy on skis

A few days ago, two Croatian police officers joined the Slovenian police again in ensuring the safety of skiers at Slovenian ski resorts.They will be on duty at the ski resorts of Rogla, Kopa and Kranjska Gora until 7 January. As Croatia is on school holidays until then, there are a lot of Croatian skiers on Slovenian ski slopes these days.

The main focus of police officers on the ski slopes is to ensure the safety of skiers, as the police deal with around 100 ski accidents a year. Half of these accidents result in serious injuries, with children being the most vulnerable group. This year, for the ninth year in a row, police officers will take part in the nationwide prevention campaign "Schoolboy on skis" together with the Slovenian Ski Association, the Planica Sports Institute and ski resorts, which will take place just before the winter school holidays in February next year.

The Croatian police consider the 10-year cooperation between Slovenian and Croatian police officers during the winter tourist season in Slovenia to be successful.