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According to a recent report, over half of British people who enjoy winter sports are hitting the slopes without taking out any form of insurance .

The survey, conducted by the Ski Club of Great Britain, found that an alarming 56 per cent of holidaymakers do not have any winter sport cover in any form.

Skiing and snowboarding is the same as any other sport or activity – accidents can and will happen. Although many people may perceive hurtling down the side of a mountain strapped to a pair of skis perilous, statistically speaking, skiing is considered to be generally safer than horse riding, soccer, swimming or rock climbing. The chances of being involved in an accident decrease by 50 per cent once you become a little more experienced on the slopes.

If you experience an injury whilst snowboarding or skiing, there is a good chance that it would not be a major one; of the 140,000 injuries that the Association of Mountain Doctors dealt with in France last year, the most common injury was a sprained knee. Although such an injury would no doubt put a dampener on your winter sports holiday, more serious ones such as broken limbs or a head injury can incur a huge cost for a mountain rescue, medical bills and repatriation to the UK. Further costs can be incurred if any physiotherapy or rehabilitation is required to aid recovery.

The Ski Club of Great Britain has recommended certain safety precautions to take when participating in winter sports activities. Some are common sense, such as limiting the amount of alcohol you drink on the mountain as your reaction times and coordination are adversely affected. They also advise to keep an eye on the weather if you plan to go off piste; conditions can become treacherous very quickly, and you should always let someone know where you plan to ski. If you take your children skiing, make sure they always wear a helmet, and be sure to take regular rest breaks.

Their report has highlighted the pitfalls of embarking on a skiing or snowboarding trip without adequate winter sports cover, and they recommend that insurance from a reputable company be sought before making any trip.