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10. 11. 09. - 15:00

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10. 11. 09. - 15:00

More than 50,000 serious injuries expected on slopes

By William Green

More than 50,000 people will be hospitalised in skiing accidents on Austria’s slopes this season, safety experts have predicted.

The Committee for Traffic Safety (KfV) said today (Tues) it expected 56,000 of the nine to 10 million people who will ski in Austria this winter season will end up in hospital.

The KfV added there had been 58,100 people severely injured during the last winter season.

KfV said every second badly-injured skier and every third seriously-injured snowboarder had suffered broken bones last year, and 32 per cent of injured skiers and 17 per cent of injured snowboarders had suffered muscle or tendon injuries.

Knee injuries were most common among skiers (26 per cent), and wrist injuries among snowboarders (17 per cent), KfV added.

Anton Dunzendorfer, the head of KfV’s home, leisure-time and sports division, said: "More than a quarter of accidents are the result of excessive speed and risk-taking."

He said people headed for the slopes for the first time this season should be calm, choose a ski area appropriate for their ability, warm up and take numerous short breaks.

Austrian Times

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