Sports-related injuries increase

More than a million people in Switzerland had non-occupational accidents in 2009, most of which took place at home.

The latest statistics from the Status 2011 report of the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention record 2,000 deaths from free-time accidents, and related costs of around SFr12 billion ($15.45 billion).

Some 610,000 people suffered injuries at home or during leisure activities, while a further 315,000 were sports-related and 90,000 involved road traffic accidents.

The number of sports-related injuries has increased significantly in the past decade rising from 281,000 to 315,000. Most injuries are suffered during ball (e.g. football) and winter sports (mostly alpine skiing and snowboarding), each accounting for more than 90,000 injuries.

Injuries on bicycles and skates are also common, with about 40,000 cases, but the most deadly activity of all is mountain sports, including hiking, which cause on average more than 70 deaths per year (double the winter sports figure).

At home the biggest danger is falling, with 176,000 people suffering injuries from falls on level ground, as opposed to falling down the stairs (70,000) or from a ladder or chair (also 70,000). Most deaths from domestic or leisure-related accidents involved falls.