Health Suva insured persons have more accidents in their free time than at work

Suva insured persons have to go to hospital more often for leisure accidents than for accidents at work. Accidents occurred particularly when cycling, playing football and skiing, as the Swiss Accident Insurance Fund announced on Tuesday.

Last year, the Swiss Accident Insurance Fund (Suva) recorded around 32,000 hospital admissions among its insured persons. Almost three quarters, namely 23,800, were due to leisure accidents, as reported by Suva.

Occupational accidents accounted for just over a quarter of hospital admissions last year, Suva added. There were few admissions due to occupational illnesses, and accidents involving the self-employed only accounted for a small proportion.

The majority of all accident victims were men. They accounted for 80 percent of hospital admissions. In addition, according to the insurance company, most of the accidents that resulted in a hospital stay involved people aged between 50 and 59.

On average, the accident victims were treated for four days. According to the press release, the most common injuries were fractures, torn muscles, tendons and meniscus as well as contusions. Longer hospital stays of more than 30 days were mainly due to motorcycle and bicycle accidents as well as work in the house and garden.

Support from various sides important

Five months after the accident, 71 percent of the injured persons were fully able to work again after an inpatient stay in hospital. In addition to medical treatment, the personal environment also plays an important role in a successful return to everyday life.

Suva registered a total of 495,000 accidents last year, as it announced in mid-June. This was roughly the same number as the year before. The investments in prevention are having an effect: The workplace has become safer. The risk of accidents in non-occupational accident insurance has remained stable.

SDA