fatigue/dehydration

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20070522-5001028,00.html

DEHYDRATION may contribute to ski and snowboard accidents, a theory being
tested at Australian ski resorts suggests.

A University of Canberra study will quiz skiers and snowboarders who have
accidents over the next month on their actions in the 24 hours prior to
injuring themselves.

Researcher Tracey Dickson is investigating which factors - including
fatigue, hydration, nutrition, living conditions and alcohol or drug use -
may contribute to people being injured on the snow.

"It's a dry environment and people are exercising for long periods, they are
not drinking enough," Dr Dickson suggested.

"There is evidence that dehydration contributes to fatigue, which
contributes to accidents.

"We're interested in whether an accident could have been avoided if a skier
or boarder had more fluid to drink before they hit the slopes.

"Or, if you had a late night or disturbed sleep before your accident, was
this a factor?"

She said drugs and alcohol may also play a role, but would probably affect
fewer people than dehydration.

"Most (people) aren't going to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol
but all are under the risk of dehydration," she said.

The research would help provide a more effective safety message, she said.

Patients who attend one of five medical practices in the Snowy Mountains
region between August 12 and September 11 will be asked to participate in an
anonymous survey.

Dr Dickson said substantial research had focused on reducing injury rates
through equipment design or protective equipment such as wrist guards and
helmets, but little research explored social factors that contributed to
injury rates and severity.

She said the research built on previous work highlighting the situation of
the resorts' seasonal workers, who may be working a couple of jobs to
support themselves as well as spending time skiing or boarding.

 

Clever, get a research grant to fund your ski holiday.

Don

 

Fark I'm drinking as much as I CAN!!

 

yeah, my hazy recollections of ski vacations is that plenty of fluids were
consumed, copiously and often, prior to hitting the slopes.

 

You should be mean to Asians.

 

****; that was s'posed to be "shouldn't"!!

 

Consumed, emitted and generally swapped all over the place... surely that's
what you meant!



Dave E

 

KKKnobdoodle?

Postman Pat (next it'll be the Albinos...)