In 2024 in Austria, 804,500 people with residence in Austria were so seriously injured in Austria that they had to be treated in a hospital (+ 3 percent). The treatment costs have increased by 5 percent to around 2.74 billion euros compared to 2023, as data from the prevention institution KFV show. Most of the injuries (600,400) had an accident in the household and leisure area. According to the Austrian Insurance Association VVO, increased prevention could prevent a lot of suffering and the state social system could also be relieved noticeably. The private insurers themselves have recently provided benefits of 840 million euros per year in accident insurance.
The effort for the surveys and evaluations within the framework of KFV IDB Austria is considerable every year: In the previous year alone, the prevention institution KFV in the ambulances of 15 top hospitals in Austria conducted around 18,800 interviews with accident victims who were treated there and the data is highly calculated. The result is unique findings about the accident and about the type and severity of the injuries of the people who had an accident in Austria resident in Austria. According to this, the number of injuries treated in the hospitals in the hospitals rose by 3 percent to 804,500 in all types of accidents. The treatment costs for this alone – i.e. without overall economic invoice – amount to 2.74 billion euros (+ 5 percent).
Disproportionately strong increase in childhood accidents
The majority of the injured resulted in 2024 from accidents in the household area (335,400 injuries) and leisure area (265,000). 112,000 injuries and 92,100 injuries were held on the work and school sector (approximately 60 percent of which are registered by the police). “There is a particularly sad development among children aged 0 to 14, because there the number of injuries has increased significantly by 5 percent to almost 122,000,” explains KFV director Mag. Christian Schimanofsky. Most of the injuries in childhood (41 percent) are available in the household area, while among young people the leisure area (including leisure sports) leads to 48 percent most often. In the elderly age, household accidents clearly dominate (67 percent).
Leisure accidents can also have serious financial consequences
In addition to the human component, the high number of injuries in the sports and leisure area also harbors a high financial risk for those affected. Unlike accidents of work or accidents in the school area, leisure accidents are not under the responsibility of the statutory accident insurance institutions. The primary care of the injuries is covered by statutory health insurance for their insured persons even in the event of leisure accidents, but with permanent disability and in the case of professional rehabilitation measures, however, no service is not carried out on the part of statutory accident insurance. “A leisure accident with disability consequences in children is particularly serious. What many parents do not know is that children are only legally insured with the last year of kindergarten or at the beginning of school – and only on the way there and home or in kindergarten and in school itself. But also for work, the consequences of an accident can often be accompanied by accident -related long -term consequences. And exactly in these cases. the benefits of private accident insurance come into play, ”explains Dr. Ralph Müller, Vice President of the Austrian Insurance Association VVO. In the event of accidents abroad, hospital treatments in some countries can also be very expensive.
Private accident insurers provide benefits of EUR 840 million per year
For the best possible coverage and to avoid the high follow -up costs of accidents, more and more people in Austria are trusting private accident insurance, although the increasing number of accidents in this sector has been noticeable for a long time. Mag. Christian Eltner, Secretary General of the VVO, explains: “In the past 10 years, the number of damage and performance cases in private accident insurance in Austria has increased in total by 26 percent to just under 259,200 cases in 2023. The services rendered have even increased by 47 percent to 840 million euros. State social insurance also also affected because this is also severely affected by increasing number of accidents and follow -up costs. ”
Around 2,500 to 3,000 people lose their lives every year in accidents
“The accident in Austria causes a lot of suffering every year, binds enormous personnel resources in the hospitals and of course also increases social expenditure in many ways because medical treatments and rehabilitation measures are associated with high costs,” states also Mag. Schimanofsky. Therefore, every accident that does not happen at all is an enormous advantage for everyone affected – both in terms of quality of life and in financial terms.
Demand for increasing the prevention measures
The KFV director To improve prevention therefore suggests the following measures: “We are calling for an intensification of the nationwide accident prevention programs, we are committed to more educational campaigns and for the introduction of effective security techniques. However, more research projects are also necessary in order to understand the causes of accidents even better and to develop effective countermeasures.” However, it is also extremely important that each individual can contribute something to avoid accidents at any age. After all, it is also about reducing the immensely high number of accident dead. The cause of death statistics for 2024 are not yet available, but the 3,094 accident deaths in 2023 were almost at a 20-year high. Around 2,500 to 3,000 people in Austria lose their lives each year in the event of accidents.
Simple prevention tips for leisure accidents in all age groups and situations
For children (0–14 years)
Avoid household accidents:
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Attach child locks on sockets and cupboards.
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Remove stumbling blocks (carpets, cables).
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Avoid falling: attach edge and stair protection.
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Hot hot drinks and cleaning agents out of reach.
Reduce sports and leisure accidents:
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Wear protective equipment (helmet, knee protectors) while doing sports.
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Learn correct behavior in ski areas (e.g. FIS rules).
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Pay attention to age -appropriate play equipment.
For young people (15–24 years)
Prevent injuries in sports:
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Use correct warm and cooling techniques.
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Exercise adventure sports (e.g. mountain biking, skiing) with protective equipment.
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Consider breaks to avoid overload.
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Correctly/honestly assess your own skills (perseverance, condition).
Minimize budget accidents:
For seniors (65+)
Fall prevention in the household:
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Remove the stumbling blocks, use non -slip mats.
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Ensure good lighting in corridors and stairwells.
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Regular exercise and equilibrium training for fall prevention.
Avoidance of leisure and sports accidents:
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Adjust activities to physical performance.
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Note the dangers when hiking or cycling (e.g. rough terrain).
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When swimming, pay attention to safe entrances and non -slip surfaces.
Prevention tips for download:
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