By Medical Service - January 2023

With the snow and the ice, pavements and road surfaces can resemble skating rinks, increasing the risk of slips and injuries. Winter sports are also a common source of accidents. At this time of year, the CERN infirmary sees more people coming in with musculoskeletal problems after a fall.

In 2021 in Switzerland, 195 000 people were injured after tripping, falling or slipping while walking or on the stairs (Suva, 2021). At CERN, in 2022, three people fell off their bicycles, resulting in one being signed off work for eight days, and one person fell while walking and was signed off for four days.

In addition, over 30 000 employees in Switzerland suffer winter sports injuries every year (Suva, 2021). According to a report published in 2021 by the French Observatoire d'accidentologie des sports d'hiver, more than 110 000 people experienced traumatic injuries in France in 2020.

In downhill skiing, sprained knees are the most common injury, accounting for almost a third of the total (32%), with shoulder injuries – mainly dislocated shoulders – accounting for 15%. Snowboarding most commonly results in wrist fractures (25%) or shoulder injuries (19%).

So how can you glide through the season smoothly and make the most of the winter sports opportunities?

Whether or not you’re a fan of snow sports, take care during your journeys and activities.

Whichever sport you choose, make sure that you’re prepared and have the right kit. Here are some basic tips for skiers and snowboarders in particular:

• Good physical preparation is key to reducing the risk of an accident. Strengthen your muscles and do cardiovascular workouts (see advice (in French) from the Swiss national accident insurance fund Suva on making the most of the season).
• Get your ski equipment checked every year

September 2022

Influenza, more commonly known as ‘the flu’, is a highly contagious disease which can cause mild to severe illness and even death, particularly for those in the high-risk groups (the very young, the older population, those with an underlying health condition, those who are pregnant, overweight or who have a weakened immune system). Symptoms usually last between 3 and 7 days, although in some instances these can persist for several weeks. Recovering from flu generally takes one or two weeks, and sometimes more.

The virus spreads through water droplets, especially when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or via contaminated hands and surfaces.

Hygiene measures such as washing of hands, coughing into your elbow, and keeping your distance, are good habits to keep up, as they are effective in helping to reduce our chances of contracting and/or spreading the flu virus.

However, the vaccine remains the best way to protect yourself and others against flu, to prevent the spread of the disease and to reduce its severity. It is important to get a flu shot every year to keep up with the circulating variants of the influenza virus and thus avoid being bed-ridden or developing complications.

Seasonal influenza | HSE unit at CERN

April 2022

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