Two young girls were injured in an accident on the summer toboggan run in Koglhof on Tuesday. Every year, some young patients end up in the pediatric surgery in Graz after such incidents. However, an expert sees no significant danger.
The girls who were injured on Tuesday were seven and eight years old: after a left turn, several sledges came to a standstill. The children noticed the backlog too late, reared up and were thrown from the sledge. The rescue helicopter brought her to the LKH Graz.
Last year, two young people from Vienna were seriously injured in Koglhof when they fell on a bend. There were also two Viennese youngsters who were thrown from their sleds in 2021. So how dangerous are these recreational attractions?
Patients are on average nine years old
Peter Spitzer from “Big Protect Little Ones”, a research center for child accidents in Graz, provides information: From 2016 to 2023, a total of 30 children and adolescents were admitted to the Graz pediatric surgery, after only five accidents on the summer toboggan runs; seriously injured, for example with facial bruises and fractures. On average, there have been five to six young patients in recent years, with an average age of nine years. There are hardly any differences between boys and girls.
Often the cause is too little distance
According to Spitzer, in 60 percent of the cases the cause was too little distance and in 43 percent the victims were thrown from the sled. “You should definitely use a belt if you have one,” says the expert. Even when adults travel with children it is not without danger: the little ones act as an airbag for the older ones and can be pushed against the front frame in a collision.
Selfies and videos taken with cell phones while driving have also happened. This can end badly. The golden rules according to Spitzer: “Keep your distance! Adjust your pace! Use a belt!”
Source: Krone
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