Morzine & Les Gets Resort Information

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Here is collection of general resort knowledge compiled from our many years of living and working in the resort, of responding to your email enquiries, getting ourselves lost, finding ourselves, late-night bar conversations, listening to your feedback, plus translations of official resort literature. We have put this resource together to help you out when you are planning a trip to the resort. Updating this section is a never-ending task so if we have missed anything out, or you spot that we are out of date or just plain wrong, please do let us know!

Health & Medical
	Altitude: Will I suffer from altitude sickness?
	EHIC Card: What is the EHIC card and do I need one?
	Fitness: What exercises should I do before my holiday?
	Injury: What are the commonest injuries and how can I avoid them?
	Medical: Are there any English speaking doctors in Morzine?
	Medical: Where is the nearest hospital to Morzine?
	Sunburn: Can I get sunburnt in winter?
	Water: Can I drink the water in Morzine?

Health & Medical
Q	Altitude: Will I suffer from altitude sickness?
A	Although Morzine is not an especially high resort at 1000m, the skiing (if you include the Avoriaz area) reaches up to 2466m (altitude sickness most commonly occurs above 2400m). Some of the lifts up to the higher peaks do ascend rapidly, which means that you might feel giddy when you get to the top and start to move around. Just take a moment to get your breath and steady yourself. Being more out of breath than usual and finding exercise slightly more tiring are not uncommon when unaccustomed to being at altitude. Common symptoms include lack of appetite, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, light-headedness, insomnia, pins and needles, shortness of breath, rapid pulse, drowsiness/malaise, slight swelling of extremities. Many people will not be affected by any of these symptoms; altitude sickness affects everyone differently and some people not at all. However, if you are embarking on a high mountain expedition there are some symptoms that may indicate a more serious problem, for which you should seek immediate medical attention. These include a persistent dry cough, fever, shortness of breath that persists when resting, headache that does not respond to analgesics, unsteady gait, vomiting, loss of consciousness. These symptoms can be indicative of either fluid in the lungs or swelling of the brain, however as they affect very few people (fluid=2%, swelling=1%) they are worth knowing about but not worrying over. Tips to Avoid Altitude Sickness: Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration � the air at altitude is thinner and your lungs lose a higher rate of water vapour the higher up you are. The additional exertion of skiing/boarding (not to mention clumping round in your boots) may be more than you are used to and could add to your potential for dehydration. If you reward yourself with a lunchtime pint or vin chaud, make sure you take plenty of water on board as well. Be careful of the strength of the sun � it is much stronger than you realise and the extra body heat you work up combined with the glare of the sun off the snow could add to a headache or feeling of dizziness. Take it easy � we know you can�t wait for that first run of the holiday, but don�t dash out of the lift and go steaming down the mountain straight away! Take a few deep breaths, cruise the first few runs and let your body adjust.
Q	EHIC Card: What is the EHIC card and do I need one?
A	EHIC stands for European Health Insurance Card and is the insurance that covers any treatment needed during the course of your visit including any maternity care, renal dialysis and oxygen therapy. Treatment of chronic diseases and pre-existing illnesses that require ongoing medical care are also included, but not if the purpose of the visit to France is to obtain medical care. The EHIC card is also only valid if you are holidaying in Europe or on a temporary visit. English residents in France should seek advice regarding health insurance here. The EHIC card replaces the old E111 form, which became invalid in January 2006; anybody travelling abroad is required to carry an EHIC card in case of medical emergency. There are arrangements throughout the European economic area for coordinating the health care systems of the member states (this applies for countries like Switzerland). However, in France you have to pay for treatment up front and then apply to have it refunded at a later date. A standard GP consultation costs upwards of �35 in Morzine, which you pay on arrival to either the receptionist or the doctor. Around 70% of standard doctors' fees and dentists' fees are refunded at a rate of between 35% and 65% of the cost of most prescribed medicines. For an emergency stay in a hospital you have to pay for roughly 25% of your treatment as well as a daily charge on discharge from hospital. For English visitors, consult the department of health's website for full details about the health care facilities in France. Additionally, in France you are required to pay for outpatient treatment and then claim a refund from the local sickness insurance office before you go home. For in-patient treatment, the doctor you have consulted or the hospital doctor will issue you with a certificate (attestation). The hospital should then send a notice of admission/acceptance of responsibility form (avis d'admission-prise en charge) to the local sickness insurance office along with your EHIC. If they do not, you should send it yourself. If you are treated in an approved hospital, the local sickness office will pay 75% or more of the cost direct to the hospital and you must pay the balance. You must also pay a fixed daily hospital charge (forfait journalier). The 25% balance and the forfait journalier are non-refundable. To read more please visit the NHS EHIC Website. IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE: The EHIC is NOT a suitable replacement for travel insurance. It does not cover cancellation insurance or repatriation. We suggest that you have both, particularly if spending significant amount of time in the Alps. Old E111 forms are now invalid. EHIC cards are free to all UK residents. For further information on ski insurance, see Travel & Sports Insurance in the Features & Articles section of the site.
Q	Fitness: What exercises should I do before my holiday?
A	Any exercise you can do before your holiday which increases your level of fitness, develops the muscles in the leg, and improves your balance, will be beneficial. Not only will you tire less easily, and slide better, but you will also be helping to protect your body from injury. The ligaments in the knee are particularly vulnerable to injury from skiing - make sure you build up the leg muscles to help protect your knees. You can prepare yourself for your holiday by reading our Guide to Pre-Season Fitness.
Q	Injury: What are the commonest injuries and how can I avoid them?
A	The type of injuries you may sustain can depend on what your chosen mountain discipline is; here are some of the most common: Skiers: knee ligaments (anterior cruciate ligament in particular). Make sure your ski-bindings are adjusted correctly for your weight and level of skiing. Over 80 % of accidents to skiers which result in sprained knee ligaments resulted from skis not coming off during a fall. Snowboarders: tend to suffer more upper body injuries such as broken collarbones, dislocated shoulders and head and wrist injuries (wear a helmet and wrist protectors). Should you be unlucky enough to get injured whilst on holiday and find yourself hobbling around on crutches � do not despair! Make the most of your situation and check out this fun website: Cool Crutches! Injury rates for skiing are much lower than most people imagine, at between 0.2 and 0.4%. The French Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests the following eight points to reduce your risk: Improve your physical fitness before your holiday. Ensure bindings are correctly set for your ability, weight and height. Choose the correct equipment for your level. Wear a helmet (especially in a snowpark). Warm up before setting out. Make sure you take enough food and liquids. Take a rest or cut short your day when you start to feel tired. To this we would add: Follow the piste safety code (see FAQs Skiing & Snowboarding). Hire equipment from a specialist sports shop rather than borrowing from friends. Stay within your own limits and don�t try to keep up with more experienced friends Bring non-slip boots for walking around the resort as pavements can be icy. For more information on skiing and snowboarding injuries, see this Ski Injury website.
Q	Medical: Are there any English speaking doctors in Morzine?
A	There are 3 medical practices in Morzine: Centre Medical l'Edelweiss (Dr Low) Immeuble le Socali (Dr Julien) Route des Bois Venants (Dr Viard) Dr Low is actually English and many of the other doctors speak some, if not fluently. Dr Julien is French but speaks good English. Please see the Medical Services listings page for contact details. There is also a Samaritans-type helpline called SOS Help for people who are suffering from anxiety, depression, stress, or who would simply like someone to talk to. Lines are manned every day from 3pm to 11pm by English speaking staff and all calls are confidential and anonymous. The number to call is 0033 (0) 146 21 46 46.
Q	Medical: Where is the nearest hospital to Morzine?
A	The nearest hospitals to Morzine are Cluses (12km) and Thonon (35km). Details can be found on the Medical Services listings page. Emergency Numbers: If you need urgent medical attention you can call 15 free of charge from any landline or payphone, this will put you through to Samu, the French ambulance service. This number is usually only used for serious medical emergencies. You can find more information on the Samu (English Version) Website. If the situation requires first aid, rather than paramedic treatment you can call the Pompiers (fire service) free of charge on 18. They are qualified and equipped to deal with most minor injuries. If you are calling from a mobile phone you should dial the Single European Emergency Call Number 112. This will put you in touch with the emergency services switchboard from anywhere in the European Union.
Q	Sunburn: Can I get sunburnt in winter?
A	Very easily! Always take precautions against the strength of the sun on a skiing holiday. At altitude, and with the reflection off the snow, the sun�s rays can cause damage very quickly. Always, always wear sunglasses, even when the sun is not shining. Apply sunscreen, apply it thickly and keep applying it (you can still burn though cloud cover). Putting on factor 40 once in the morning will not protect you from burning. Reapply every hour.
Q	Water: Can I drink the water in Morzine?
A	Yes! Morzine is a proper town with decent water treatment. The water can sometimes taste a bit metallic due to the high mineral content and during the melting periods some people prefer to switch to bottled water just in case the treatment plants are over-capacity. Generally though the water in the Alps is, on the whole, wonderful mountain spring water and Morzine is no exception. It is perfectly safe to drink and tastes even better than the water at home!

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