In Austria, 3,099 people died in accidents last year, of which more than 1,000 were due to a fall alone. This is the highest value since 1994, when 3,250 people died in accidents. These data originate from an evaluation of the accident registration by the Road Safety Supervisory Board (KFV). According to this, most people died in “other accidents” by 1597. Transport accidents claimed 364 victims, poisoning 74 and 40 people drowned.
According to the KFV, 18 people were killed by fires in 2022. According to broadcasts, a large proportion of the fatal accidents were people over 65 years old. Many died here last year from falls and their consequences in their own homes.
The number of people who had to go to hospital due to accidents was also at a high level in 2022 at 735,000 people. 42 percent of all injuries occurred at home, 33 percent in leisure time, 14 percent at work or school, and 11 percent in traffic accidents.
“For almost 30 years, not so many people have died as a result of an accident in Austria. Austria should therefore significantly increase its accident prevention measures,” says Johanna Trauner-Karner, head of sports and leisure safety at KFV. accidents for which no specific accident cause can be identified has increased considerably.
Apparently because the causes of the accident are not or too vaguely stated in the death certificates. “Austria must also get to the bottom of the causes of accidents involving single people through no fault of their own, because this knowledge is very important for prevention work. Only in this way can effective measures be evaluated and initiated,” the expert demanded.
High death rate from falls
The number of fatalities from falls is particularly high. In 2022, 1006 people lost their lives, which is an increase of twelve percent compared to 2021. Compared to the years 2017 to 2019, this is 14 percent more. “The elderly are particularly affected by falls, with the risk of fatal falls beginning to increase significantly in men from the age of 50 and somewhat later in women. In addition, more than a quarter of all fatal falls occur at home. The top reasons are falls, trips and slips, followed by accidents on steps and stairs,” explains Trauner-Karner.
306,000 people were injured in home accidents, and nearly 220,000 of them from falls. “Due to the aging of society, fall prevention at home is also becoming increasingly urgent in Austria. For example, floor coverings and stairs must be non-slip and regularly checked for damage and other tripping hazards. When visiting the toilet at night, light sensors can noticeably increase safety. Sturdy shoes and immediate removal of spills or cables lying around are also highly recommended,” recommends Trauner-Karner.
Treatment costs about 2.58 billion euros
In the context of the annual government investigation, some 16,300 interviews were held with hospital accident victims in 2022 alone due to the many accidents. The results are then extrapolated. This research method also makes it possible, for example, to record the high number of unreported accidents that do not appear in the official accident statistics, the KFV explains. As the evaluations by age groups show, all generations are relatively affected by post-accident injuries, with treatment costs for the injured amounting to approximately €2.58 billion.
Source: Krone
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