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After a couple of years where foreign holidays were pretty much off limits, the travel industry is currently experiencing a slight revival with people jetting off on holiday for some much-needed rest and relaxation. And for many, this involves taking to the slopes to indulge in fresh powder skiing or snowboarding. Skiing, although relaxing and fun, can also be considered an extreme sport, with accidents on the slopes commonplace due to skiers hitting rocks, trees or indeed colliding with other people.

If you are planning a ski holiday, as well as getting the right equipment and understanding proper ski techniques and chair lift etiquette, it is important to stay safe and plan for any mishaps.

What if something were to happen to you? Although it is not something you want to think about, skiing can be dangerous and ski accidents can be life changing. Do you have a Power of Attorney in place?

A Power of Attorney is a legal document which allows you to plan for the future. It's drawn up when you have the capacity to do so and it gives another person (known as the attorney), the authority to deal with aspects of your affairs should you not be able to do so yourself. This could relate to financial matters and / or personal welfare.

Having a Power of Attorney in place will provide assurance for you and your loved ones. It’s not just the elderly or frail who should make one – anyone can have a serious accident or suffer a stroke or other illness, no matter their age. During the 2020/21 ski season 100,000 people were injured, some with near-fatal head injuries and serious broken bones, and it was only last month when French actor Gaspard Ulliel tragically died after a skiing accident at the age of 37.

The famous accident in 2013 involving Formula One racer Michael Schumacher, who is still in serious rehabilitation after a ski accident in the French Alps, highlighted the issue of ski safety and the importance of ensuring loved ones can make decisions on your behalf, if you are not able to do so yourself.

So whether you are jetting off to the slopes, or just want to take a sensible step to ensuring that someone you trust is able to manage your affairs and make important decisions about your health for you, should something unfortunate happen to you, speak to a lawyer about putting in place a Power of Attorney. In Scotland, nobody has the legal authority to make any decision for someone else over the age of 16, regardless of their relationship. Therefore if for some reason your spouse becomes incapable of making decisions on their own behalf, and do not have a Power of Attorney, it can cause significant issues for you and those close to them.