DH taking DCs skiing on his own - what would happen if he was injured?

[diplodocus]

DH is taking the two DDs aged 8 and 6 skiing by himself next month and will be traveling independently (no tour operator). We were wondering what would happen in the short term to the DCs if he was injured and needed hospitalisation? Obviously I would fly over as soon as I could and we are insured etc. but what would happen to the children before I arrived (realistically it may not be easy for me to get a flight immediately at half term)? This must be something that happens not infrequently - does anyone know if there's a general procedure?

[TheGreatHunt]

Why don't you go as well

[AgentProvocateur]

They would presumably go into short-term foster care, same as they would here if a parent was injured and there was no one else.

[diplodocus]

The Great Hunt - I have to work

[diplodocus]

Yes Agent, I was assuming this, but don't know if Austria has the same sort of system. You would have thought it must happen quite a lot.

[TheGreatHunt]

Ok - just when you said you'd fly over was confused.

[QuintessentialShadows]

Your dh would have to make sure he does not take any unnecessary risks, and does not fall for the temptation to go free-styling out of tracks, etc, chasing "virgin powder".

E44 health cards, travel insurance, etc. Mobile phones for him and your dds with international cover.

[diplodocus]

Luckily he's not much of a thrillseeker quint , and is not very experienced so will probably be slithering down the green / blue rather than daredevil off-piste excitement. Still accidents do happen even on the nursery slope. Will have all the paperwork etc. you suggest - am just worried about what would happen in the short term to the kids.

[Liara]

It would depend on how bad an accident, I presume.

If it was fairly minor, I would assume the children would go to hospital with him.

If it was really major, the police would get involved and someone would be allocated to care for them until a relative or friend could come over.

I don't think it would be any different if there was a tour operator, tbh.

[UniS]

Make a emergency card for each child , to be keep in their ski jacket, include insurance company details, contact names and numbers ( both their dad in Austria and you in UK) and accommodation address . Tell the children what it is and why and when to show it to a grown up. We did this with DS this year as he would be in ski school and collected by a nanny, so away from us for several hours at a time.
DH will also need to brief the kids on WHICH grown ups to go to if they have a problem on the slopes. We told DS to go to a liftee/ piste-our or a ski school instructor and show them his emergency card.

Ask your insurance co what they will pay to fly a child home with out the parent. Our policy with GNU this year included a sum to fly an unaccompanied child home in the event of parent being unable to look after them.

Get DH to check with the children ski school what happens if the parent doesn't show up to collect. He may then need to brief the kids on what to do if he doesn't show up to collect them on time.

[gloriagloria]

Thanks for the advice on insurance Unis - that's the sort of thing I've been struggling to find out. And yes, will make laminated cards and brief as you suggest.