Caution, black ice!
Stumbling can have fatal consequences: Almost every second disability pension in Switzerland is paid because of a trip and fall accident. Pedestrians are injured particularly frequently in the winter months - often because they slip on slippery snow and ice and injure themselves in the process.
Trips and falls are the most common cause of accidents in Switzerland. Almost 315,000 people are injured every year as a result of a trip and fall accident. The consequences are often trivialized - quite wrongly. Almost every second disability pension is paid because of a trip and fall accident. In the winter months, a particularly large number of pedestrians are injured. Recent figures show that one in three trip and fall accidents occurs between November and February because of slippery snow and ice. "But it shouldn't be a question of the weather whether you arrive safely at your destination," says Raphael Ammann, campaign manager for trip and fall accidents at Suva.
Prevention instead of cure
How can trip-and-fall accidents be prevented in the winter months? Drivers who drive with summer tires in winter road conditions endanger themselves and others. So do pedestrians with bad shoes. Therefore, before leaving home, check the weather conditions and then decide on the appropriate footwear. Suva also recommends taking enough time to get to work and walking carefully - especially when there is a risk of icy roads. "It is often difficult to tell by eye whether the streets and sidewalks are covered with ice," says Ammann. The MeteoSchweiz app, for example, is helpful in this regard, as it allows users to subscribe to push warnings about slippery snow and ice under their local favorites. So-called shoe spikes, which are mounted directly on the shoes and thus offer protection against slipping, are also useful.
Accident hotspot stairs
Pedestrians should pay special attention to stairs - and not only in the winter months. A quarter of all trip and fall accidents occur on stairs. This makes them an accident hotspot. Many of the accidents could be prevented with simple behaviors. "Consciously walk attentively on stairs, don't look at your cell phone screen while doing so, and use the handrail," Ammann recommends. Because tripping on stairs can lead to dangerous falls.
This will help you avoid tripping and falling accidents:
- Find out about the current weather conditions in good time - e.g. with the MeteoSchweiz app, on the radio or on the Internet.
- Wear shoes that fit well on your feet and have non-slip tread soles.
- Icy stairs pose a great risk of accidents. Always hold on to the handrail on stairs.
- Calculate enough time for the route on foot. This will allow you to walk slowly and carefully.
- Whenever possible, use sidewalks that are clear of snow and ice.
- Use a slip guard for your shoes in winter conditions - for even better grip.
- Build enough exercise into your daily routine, because physically fit people are more likely to catch slips and falls.
Source: Suva
