Innsbruck clinic director asks skiers to be careful – Coronavirus Vienna
In order to relieve the clinics during the Corona crisis, the clinic director for orthopedics and traumatology at the Meduni Innsbruck, Rohit Arora, asked skiers to be restrained.
“Yes, skiing, but in a controlled manner and with less willingness to take risks,” he said as a motto. “As soon as the ski lifts open, we notice that at the clinic,” he reported in a broadcast on Monday.
Significantly fewer ski injuries in the previous year
In the previous year there were “significantly fewer ski injuries” after fewer tourists were in the country. 48 percent fewer ski injuries are treated compared to the previous year, but 38 percent more sledding accidents, especially with lower leg, ankle and many cuts, said Arora. In 2020 the number of injured ski tourers increased. “The lifts weren’t open until December 24th, when a lot of people started touring.”
Planned interventions & will also be postponed in Innsbruck
At the moment, however, three of eight full operating theaters are blocked. “The idea behind this is that the nursing staff WILL be needed on other wards. In our case, this means that we have to postpone planned interventions,” reported Arora. Emergencies would of course be cared for, including those who “are in enormous pain or have their operations.” “Our criterion is whether or not a patient needs an intensive care place after an operation.” In addition, a certain contingent is required for emergencies – such as a serious traffic accident.
Ski accidents mostly at noon or in the afternoon
In the case of skiing accidents, it was observed that they usually happen at lunchtime and in the late afternoon. “The ability to concentrate decreases and tiredness increases,” he said, describing the main factors. For skiers who have a prosthesis, “I would absolutely like to recommend that you only go skiing if you feel very safe and avoid icy slopes,” says Arora. “These people often need intensive care,” he said.
All information about the coronavirus