1. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention Ready for the mountain? Company, event, date Name 2016Preventing hiking accidents1

2. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention Did you know that... 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 2... there are 65,000 km of hiking trails in Switzerland?... every year, approx. 162 million hours are spent hiking? This adds up to more than 54 million days spent hiking each year.... one third of the Swiss population goes hiking regularly?

3. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention Up hill and down dale in safety 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 3 Hiking is a popular and healthy pastime – but it can also be demanding in the mountains. A moment’s inattention and a slip or trip can lead to a tumble or even to a fall with fatal consequences in exposed places.

4. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 4 Non-occupational accidents in Switzerland, 2012 Every year, more than one million people are injured on the roads, when doing sport and physical activities as well as in and around the house.

5. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 5 Persons injured, by type of sport (Ø 2008-2012) (Source: bfu, Status 2015) Type of sportTotalOf which Ball games135 000 Football81 000 Other ball games (unihockey, volleyball, handball, etc.) 54 000 Winter sports92 000 Skiing (incl. touring)51 000 Snowboarding15 000 Tobogganing7 500 Other winter sports (ice-hockey, ice-skating, cross-country skiing, etc.) 18 500 Cycling and skating (not in traffic) 31 000 Gymnastics, athletics28 000 Mountain sports, hiking22 000 Water sports18 000 Other types of sports81 000 Total407 000

6. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 6 Type of sportTotal Mountain sports48 (of which, 38 hiking / mountain hiking) Winter sports26 Water sports21 Flying sports10 Other types of sport12 Fatalities, by type of sport (Ø 2010-2014) Source: bfu, Status 2015 Total117 Every year, approx. 407 000 people are injured when doing sport, 117 of whom fatally.

7. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 7 PACE hiking check Plan: What do I intend to do? Assess: Is this hike suitable for me? Consider: Do I have what I need? Evaluate: How am I doing?

8. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention Up hill and down dale in safety: Plan 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 8  Plan your route, the time required as well as alternative routes.  Take requirements into account: route category, gradients, exposed places and weather conditions.  Tell someone else about your trip, particularly if you are setting off on your own.

9. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention Up hill and down dale in safety: Assess  Assess your actual abilities realistically and do not demand too much of yourself.  Include sufficient time and make sure you’re not too tired for the descent. 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 9

10. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention Route categories Hiking trail: No special demands on hikers. Shoes with non-slip soles are recommended. Mountain trail: Mostly steep, narrow and exposed in places. Hikers must be physically fit, surefooted, have a head for heights and wear sturdy hiking shoes. Alpine trail: Sometimes across glaciers and scree, with short climbing sections, to some extent without marked trails. Hikers must be physically very fit, surefooted, have a head for heights, alpine experience and the corresponding equipment. 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 10

11. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention Up hill and down dale in safety: Consider 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 11 Take along as little as possible and as much as is needed:  Sturdy hiking shoes with non-slip soles  Several layers of warm clothing: pullover, rain jacket, possibly a woollen hat and gloves  Sunglasses, sunhat and sunscreen  Up-to-date map, possibly GPS  Food, drinks, penknife, possibly hiking poles  For emergencies: first-aid kit, emergency blanket, mobile phone

12. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention Up hill and down dale in safety: Evaluate 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 12  Being tired can seriously affect your surefootedness. Drink, eat and rest regularly to stay fit and focussed.  Keep track of the time needed and changes in the weather.  Keep your distance from mother cows and sheep guarded by sheepdogs.  Turn back in time if necessary.

13. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 13 Ready for the mountain? «Mountain hiking» video

14. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention Particularly important recommendations: 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 14 Take care  in exposed places → Watch your step.  when it’s slippery → Avoid icy patches and snowfields.  on the descent → Include sufficient time and make sure you’re not too tired.

15. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention In an emergency 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 15  Provide the injured person with immediate life-saving measures.  Alert the emergency services as soon as possible.  Do not leave the injured person on their own.  Do not neglect your own safety. European emergency number: 112 Rega: 1414 or in canton Valais: KWRO 144

16. bfu – Swiss Council for Accident Prevention Further information 2016 Preventing hiking accidents 16 More on this in the bfu’s «Mountain hiking» brochure (Art. no. 3.010). Order free-of-charge from www.bestellen.bfu.ch.www.bestellen.bfu.ch Further information on the campaign’s website www.sicher-bergwandern.ch. www.sicher-bergwandern.ch Even more accident-prevention tips here: www.bfu.ch. www.bfu.ch