Integration of Medical Services for Sporting Events with the Regional Emergency System During an Avalanche: A Case Report from the Alpine Ski World Cup

Background Managing emergencies in mountain sporting competitions is complicated by difficult access and adverse environmental conditions. This case report describes a rare event in which healthcare resources from a sporting event were integrated into the rescue of a nearby avalanche, demonstrating an innovative resource management model. Case Presentation On 14th March 2025, during the Alpine Ski World Cup in La Thuile (Aosta Valley, Italy), an avalanche in the Arpy area involved nine ski mountaineers. With the primary helicopter (SA1) already engaged elsewhere, the SA2 helicopter and medical and technical personnel from the competition were diverted to the site, ensuring rapid intervention despite adverse weather. Four patients sustained injuries (one with an initial GCS of 10 and severe hypothermia); five were uninjured. Adverse weather conditions, scene hazards, and the absence of a triage system in the literature for approaching these cases complicated the intervention, but coordination between sporting resources and the Regional Emergency System optimised the overall response. Conclusions Integrating sporting healthcare resources with the Regional Emergency System offers significant added value in managing major mountain emergencies. However, as highlighted in the ICAR MedCom guidelines, triage in the mountain environment requires a compromise between healthcare needs and technical factors, such as weather conditions and accessibility of the incident site. The success of the described intervention was possible only thanks to the close collaboration between the Aosta Valley Alpine Rescue (SAV) and the 118 (local EMS) emergency physicians, ensuring a synergistic and optimal management of available resources.