Ice trials: sliding down slides has become the most injury-prone winter pastime

- Injuries in these cases range from bruises to fractures. One of the major cases was a compensation of Br30 thousand for a chipped tooth and Br18 thousand for a broken collarbone," he said.

Two more children were hurt in the Altai region after riding down a slide on tubing, the Biysk ambulance station reported. The boys, aged seven and eight, collided with a tree - they are in moderate condition.

Meanwhile, in Krasnoyarsk, two girls were involved in an accident while riding a tubing tied to a car. One of them died on the spot, the other was hospitalized with serious injuries, reported the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Krasnoyarsk region. The accident occurred in the evening of December 9. Then a 27-year-old man decided to ride on a "tubing", tied by a cable to his car, two girls - 17 and 20 years old. As a result, while driving the tubing flew into the oncoming lane and hit a passing car. Before the ambulance arrived, the minor girl died of her injuries, the second victim was taken to hospital. On the driver, to whose car was tied to the "water-truck", a criminal case under the article on violation of traffic rules was instituted.

In early November in the Sverdlovsk region, a 16-year-old teenager tied a tubing to a snowmobile to take a friend for a ride. At some point, the "tubing" skidded, the boy collided with a tree and was injured.

Not long before that, the medics of Surgut Trauma Hospital rescued an 11-year-old schoolboy who was seriously injured while riding down a slide, the press service of the medical institution reported. The child flew into a fence at full speed - the medics diagnosed the boy with bruises, fractures of vertebrae at the level of the thoracic region and a bruised lung.

Where else are injured in winter

A little behind in terms of injury risk and other winter fun. For example, according to AlfaStrakhovanie, skating injuries accounted for 17% of claims. Most often children suffered concussions, fractures and sprains.

According to the results of the last winter season, many accidents were related to skating, noted Anton Malyarov.

- 51% of all injuries recorded with accident insurance policies were received at the skating rink, - explained the representative of "Rosgosstrakh". - Most often people suffered from fractures of hands and fingers when falling on the ice. There have also been cases of cuts, concussions, dental injuries, sprains and dislocations.

The largest payout, he said, amounted to 193,000 rubles - for a serious shoulder injury to a Moscow resident.

Alpine skiing and snowboarding also often lead to injuries, added the insurance companies. Thus, "AlfaStrakhovanie" had 11% of claims for accidents on the slopes, while "Rosgosstrakh" - 16%.

- Moreover, most often injuries occur during falls and are associated with fractures or ligament damage. The maximum payment for last winter amounted to Br7.5 thousand, - said Anton Malyarov.

Russia has a national standard GOST R 56987-2016, which regulates the requirement for winter slides.

"This standard applies to winter slides (hereinafter - slides) made of wood, ice or their combination," the document says.

At the same time, the standard does not establish levels of acceptable risk in the operation of slides and does not take into account the dangers in the case of use of slides unsupervised or not for their intended purpose.

Also national standard GOST R 55881-2016 establishes general requirements for the activities of ski complexes. It establishes, among other things, standard rules for snow tubing in a snow park, according to which children under 12 years of age are allowed to ride only in the presence of parents, and persons under 14 years of age require a helmet. It is forbidden to ride on one snow tubing with two people, as well as in coupling with other tubing. Tyubing for adults is designed for a mass of no more than 120 kg, because a large weight can lead to an accident.

However, this GOST does not establish the characteristics and parameters of tracks for riding on tubing, specific rules for their design, construction and operation. Requirements to tubing current standards are also not established.

Maximum safety is ensured where the ice or snow slide is equipped for children's and adult use, when experts have checked whether the slope is correct, whether there are no any obstacles on the way, whether the transport can not enter the zone of descent in time, added the expert "People's Front. Analytics" Svetlana Kalinina.

- When using tubing is very important a special angle of slope, slope, a well thought-out combination of acceleration and braking. If there is no such thing, even a small hill at the bottom can lead to injury," she believes.

Often spontaneous ice and snow slides occur on slopes near roadways, on embankments near railroads. Municipalities should keep a close eye on this, the expert emphasized. She suggested that before the winter vacations a lesson on the safety of skiing on ice slides should be held in schools.

Safety on the ski slopes is determined by the administration of this track or ski resort, also hired specialized security services and instructors, explained the lawyer.

- In case of injury at a ski resort in the absence of fault of a vacationer, the latter has the right to make a civil claim for reimbursement of medical expenses and the cost of damaged property directly to the administration, which will have to reimburse it, - added Vladimir Kuznetsov.

Then the administration will be able to claim these amounts directly from the guilty parties - security officers or instructors.

Which injuries are the most severe

With the arrival of cold weather, the number of patients in trauma departments increases sharply, doctors confirmed to "Izvestia". Even an ordinary fall in the street can cause injury, and popular winter activities threaten more serious injuries, recalled the expert of the laboratory "Gemotest", doctor Roman Ivanov.

One of the most dangerous types of winter fun in the fresh air, he called skating down the mountain on "rollerskates" - snow tubing.

- Going down the mountain, "vatrushka" develops great speed, spins in different directions, and any obstacle in its path - snow trampoline, pit, stone, tree root - can change its route, - reminded the doctor.

Before descending from the slide, he urged to see how many people on the slope, whether there are dangerous obstacles along the slide - trees, large rocks, snow removal equipment. The doctor categorically recommended not to overload the tubing or to drive off in a hitch, as well as to attach the "tubing" to the car.

When falling from the tubing on the back or side, spinal injuries and head injuries are possible, added traumatologist-surgeon-orthopedist "Family Clinic" on the Hour Network "RZD-Medicine" Alexander Likhogrud. Abrupt braking is fraught with sprains and muscle strains, most often in the knees and ankles, he added.

A trip to the slope for skiers and snowboarders can end in sprains, fractures, and sometimes even head injuries, Roman Ivanov emphasized.

- To protect yourself, it is important to choose a slope for skiing in accordance with your skill level, without overestimating your skills and training. It is necessary to think over the equipment and use protection - knee and elbow guards, helmet, - he emphasized.

Before descending, it is necessary to take into account the load of slopes, and stop only at the edge of the track in a clearly visible place.

- A trip to the skating rink in case of non-compliance with safety techniques can also end sadly. To avoid falling, it is necessary to choose the right clothes (it should not constrict movements) and shoes. Skates should be exactly the right size, sit tightly on the leg, blades should be well sharpened, - reminded the doctor.

In winter, the probability of frostbite increases, especially in insufficiently insulated children, added Alexander Likhogrud. Therefore, according to him, it is important to dress properly and monitor activity to avoid hypothermia.