1. Surf Prevention
A lifetime overview of injuries and
how we can prevent them!
Guillaume Barucq, M.D.

2. Guillaume Barucq, M.D.
- General Practitioner
- 38
- Author of the Books Surfers’ Survival Guide and Surf Thérapie
- Editor of www.surf-prevention.com
- Contact :
Twitter @surfprevention @guillaumebarucq
www.facebook.com/surf.prevention // www.facebook.com/guillaume.barucq

3. Surfing, a Dangerous Sport ?

4. Surfing Injuries – Risk Factors

5. 1. The Wave (Height, Power +++)

6. 2. Sea Floor
- Reef
« Injury happens even to the best surfers. »

7. - Sand Bottom
 Aritz Aranburu’s accident at La Gravière
« Sand can be hard as concrete. »

8. 3. Shore Break

9. Risk of cervical trauma
(bodyboard, bodysurf+++)

10. Bodysurfers and bodyboarders are at higher risks of cervical
trauma because they go head-first in the shore break.

11. 4. Rip Currents

12. Drowning :
infrequent.
Surfboard = Rescue.
 3 Major Causes :
- Head Trauma + Loss of
Consciousness
- Heart Attack
- Epileptic Seizure

13. 5.Overcrowded Surf Spots

14. 6. Angry Locals
SUP surfer attacked with a machete
in Pavones, Costa Rica.
Surfer beaten with bats during surf contest
in Cloud 9 (Philippines).

15. 7. Lack of Preparation (training, warm-up, hydratation…)
 muscle disorders, tendinitis…

16. 8. Surfing in the Air
Risk of Sprain (knee, ankle +++)

17. 9. Storm
Go in immediately
in case of lightning!

18. 10. Marine Animals

19. And also…

20. 11. Surfboard = 1st Danger

21. Different Risk Levels in France
Bask Coast Tahiti
Reunion Island
(7 fatalities since 2011, 5 surfers
killed by sharks)

22. Data
 Analysis of patients admitted for surfing injuries at the
Basque Coast’s Emergency Departments during the
summer of 2006. 350 admissions from the 21st of June
to the 30th of September 2006.
(G. Barucq, T. Mokni, S. Marcé, J-M. Campagne, D. Le Jeune, Centre Hospitalier de la Côte Basque)
 Comparison with a new prospective study in 2014 in
the same area. 287 cases during the months of July and
August 2014.
(Hervé Dubois, T. Mokni , Urgences-SAMU-SMUR, Centre Hospitalier de la Côte Basque.)

23. Surfing Injuries on the Bask Coast -
Mechanism

24. Surferversus Sea Floor (13%)
 Surfer versus
sand in 9 out of
10 cases.
 Surfer versus reef
in 1 out of 10
cases.

25. Collisions (17%)
 Surfer vs surfer (66%)
 Surfer vs swimmer (27%)
 Surfer vs bodyboarder
(5%)
 Surfer vs floating object
(2%) : wood, marine litter…

26. Surfer Vs Own Surfboard (60%)

27. Big Boards (Longboard, SUP)
(Risk of head trauma)

28. Shortboards +++ [Nose]

29. 56% of lacerations caused by surfboard’s fins.
Exemples: Joel Parkinson or Pauline Ado’s accidents.

30. Leash  13 cases of finger trauma in summer
2006 (3,7% of accidents).
 8 fractures of the 3rd phalange of a
finger (4 open fractures and 1
amputation, 6 surgeries).
 In summer 2014 : 4,1 % of accidents.
 Severe leash accidents (50%).
 Less fractures (33% in 2014).
 ▶ Efficiency of the messages of
prevention / surf school advices.

31. Leash
 Don’t grab your leash !
 Risk of entanglement
around the upper limb.
 Danger with a big board
and a thin leash.

32. Profile of the Injured Surfers
 22% are girls.
 50% of injured
surfer girls had
less than 20 yo
and 25% less
than 16 yo.

33. Age
 Average age = 26.
 2/3 of patients had
less than 30.
 Young kids among
the victims.

34. Level of Experience
 Beginner : 35%. Half injured during a
surfing lesson.
 Intermediate : 34%
 Experienced : 31%

35. Surfing Injuries - Traumatology

36. Most Frequent Injuries
 Lacerations
(61%)
 9 out of 10 require
stitches.
 6 stitches on
average.

37.  7 out of 10 lacerations
concern the head of the
surfer.
 Facial cuts can leave scars.
 Scalp Lacerations can be
hemorrhagic.
Localisation

38. Lacerations - Causes
 The surfboard cause 93% of the lacerations.
 56% from sharp fins and 30% from pointed nose.

39. Most serious Injuries
 3 Ocular trauma
requiring surgery.
 In case of ocular
trauma, a consultation
with an
ophtalmologist is
mandatory (risk of
fiberglass inside the
wound).

40. Spinal Trauma
 14 cervical
traumas.
 3 severe
whiplashes with
vertebral
fracture.
 Circumstances :
diving at the end
of a wave in
shallow water or
shore break
accident.

41. Summer 2014 (small waves)
 More accidents : 4,6 accidents/day (↑ 34% ).
Less serious accidents (26 -> 18%). N0 drowning. Hospitalisation → 5%.
 Age of the victims : → 26,6 years old but ↑ ≥40 yo and ≤20 yo.
 More women involved in surfing accidents : ↑ 46% : from 22% to 33%.
 More beginners injured : ↑ de 45%.
 Less lacerations (61% -> 48%) and less fractures (11% -> 5%) but more
contusions (15% ->30%) and dislocations (3 -> 6%). Sprains stable at 10%.
 Explanation : more soft boards used in surf schools or in rental shops.
 Prevention has a direct impact on the types of surfing injuries.
 : 1/2
 ► Licences F.F.S. : ↑ de 72% : x2 Femme et ≤12 ans

42. Localisation of Injuries 2014
Stable
TÊTE
MEMBRE
RACHIS
THORAX
ABDOMEN
OGE

43. Mechanism of injury in 2014
Stable
PROPRE PLANCHE
FOND
COLLISION
MOUVEMENT

44. The vast majority of surfing accidents could be
prevented by simple measures and
adaptations of the surfer’s equipment.
Prevention

45. - Nose Guard
- Tail Guard

46. Soft Boards, Rounded Shape.

47. « Tomo Boards »

48. Inflatable Boards (Surf & SUP)

49. Soft Edged Fins

50. Finless Surfboards

51. Secured Leash
Removable Leash (XM Power Clip) to prevent drowning from a leash entangled in the reef.

52. Helmet use
5 reasons why surfers should wear a helmet :
www.theinertia.com/surf/5-reasons-why-surfers-
should-wear-a-helmet

53. You can win a surf contest with a helmet !
Jeremy Flores, Teahupo’o
Champion 2015

54. Inflatable Wetsuit / Vest
Wairgo TribordBillabong V1

55. Flags
(Photo IMAZ PRESS REUNION)

56. Warning Signs

57. Surfer’s Etiquette
Nat Young Surfer ’s Code Homemade warning

58. Prevention from the French Surfing Federation

59. Soft Board Zones / Spots ?

60. Books and Guides on surf prevention
 Free Surf Prevention Guide

61. « Know before you Go. »
« If in Doubt, don’t paddle Out.»
« Your Surfboard is your First Enemy. »
« Protect your Head in all Circumstances. »

62. More info on :