Do not fall − stay on top of road condition forecasts

According to a report* published by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, there are around 125,000 slip-and-fall accidents in Finland every year. Just over half (56%) of these accidents happen to women. Up to two thirds of slip-and-fall accidents occur among people aged between 20 and 54. Slip-and-fall accidents occur during commuting, for example, and result in significant financial costs due to sick leave.

With age, as muscle and bone strength deteriorate, there is an increased risk that injuries caused by slipping and falling will require specialised medical treatment. There is a clear spike in the number of visits to outpatient specialised health care for women over the age of 50**. The most common types of injuries caused by slipping and falling that require hospital care include various head injuries and limb fractures.

Use of anti-slip guards also increasing among younger working-age people

A report by the Ministry of Transport and Communications shows that 44% of Finland’s population prepare for slippery conditions by wearing winter shoes with anti-slip guards. The rate of use increases with age, and more than half of the people over the age of 50 wear winter shoes with anti-slip guards.

There has been a positive change, as younger people have also started to wear anti-slip guards.

"You will not be caught off guard in slippery conditions when you stay on top of road condition forecasts and check whether the streets are slippery before you go out – and prepare for slippery conditions with the appropriate footwear or anti-slip guards," reminds Planning Officer Laura Loikkanen from the Finnish Road Safety Council. *Publications of the Ministry of Transport and Communications 2022:2 Pedestrian slip-and-fall accidents and their prevention: an equality perspective (valtioneuvosto.fi; in Finnish)

**Finnish institute for health and welfare, Care Register for Health Care, average for 2019−2021

The ‘Stay on your feet’ campaign period is 16–29 January 2022.

Website of the ‘Stay on your feet’ campaign (in Finnish) Campaign partners: Aivovammaliitto, EHYT Finnish Association for Substance Abuse Prevention, Finance Finland, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities, the Finnish Road Safety Council, Icebug Finland, Luustoliitto, LähiTapiola, Nikander ja Wiinikka Oy, Partioaitta, the Finnish Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Finnish Red Cross, Taitavat Suutarit ry, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.