Turning point: how Russians were injured during the New Year holidays

Fractures were the most common injury during the New Year holidays, accounting for 37% of health insurance claims during this period. The reasons are ice and snow—covered sidewalks, as well as skiing, ice skating, sledding and "cheesecakes". More than 20% of the complaints are related to poisoning and acute digestive disorders typical of festive feasts. Traditionally, there are many victims of pyrotechnics. About how the Russians were injured during the long weekend, see the Izvestia article.

What injuries were recorded

During the New Year holidays, falls were the main cause of injuries to Russians, insurance companies told Izvestia.

More than 37% of the appeals were for fractures and serious bruises, primarily due to ice and snow—covered sidewalks, as well as skiing, skating, sledding and "cheesecakes," the Alfa Insurance press service said.

"Over 20% of complaints are related to poisoning and acute digestive disorders typical of the festive period," the company noted. "Pyrotechnic injuries are also common causes, about 10-11% of cases, and household injuries sustained at home, including during cooking and household chores."

Natalia Tylina, head of the department for the settlement of losses of people traveling abroad and accidents at Absolut Insurance, confirmed that during the New Year holidays, Russians treated ski injuries such as fractures and bruises.

— There are victims when riding a "cheesecake": there was a collision with a tree, — she said. — There is also a sports policy: fracture of a toe during training while performing an acrobatic element.

Eye and spine injuries were also quite common, said Dmitry Krenev, Deputy Director of Ingosstrakh's Retail Business Loss Settlement Department.

— During the period from December 31 to January 11, 68 appeals were registered in the company, — he said. — Approximately 45% of the total number of victims were injured during sports, training or competitions. Another 35% were weather—related injuries, such as a person who slipped on the street, was injured while skiing or snowboarding, or descending on a cheesecake.

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According to public figures, such entertainment is dangerous for the health of children and adults.

The damage that was caused by negligence or at home is about 20%.

In winter, the number of injury claims is usually 15-20% higher than in other seasons, confirmed Nadezhda Grishina, product manager of the Department of Personal Insurance and insurance for those traveling abroad at RESO-Garantia.

— First of all, this is due to the weather conditions. Peter is always in the lead during this period," she noted. — The most common winter injuries are ligament damage, fracture or dislocation of the phalanx of the fingers, fractures of the radius, ulna and metacarpal bones, ribs, foot bones, concussion of the brain.

As noted by Elena Kosheleva, Director of Sberbank Insurance projects, the number of injury complaints has decreased so far compared to the same period last year, but she did not give an exact figure.

Under what circumstances did the Russians get injured

Alcohol remains a separate risk factor during the holidays, Alfa Insurance added.

"At the same time, there are traditionally non—standard insurance cases during the New Year holidays," they said. — For example, jumping into a snowdrift for a photo, which ended with a broken leg. Another curious case: a Christmas tree that a cat dropped on its owner, a young man had to seek medical help due to damage to his eye. The cat escaped with a slight fright."

Among the unusual cases, Dmitry Krenev named a girl's fall from a ladder while hanging garlands and a chemical skin burn from deodorant.

According to Nadezhda Grishina, in addition to the traditional injuries from pyrotechnics, there is a New Year's case — the victim damaged his eye and eyelid with a glass.

Many of the appeals are related to injuries sustained during repairs, added Polina Grigorieva, Head of the Department of Personal Insurance Payments at PJSC IC Rosgosstrakh.

A lot of appeals are related to winter activities — people get injured by slipping on ice, as well as by tubing, skating, skiing or snowmobiling, said Alevtina Zhafyarova, head of the Retail Products Settlement Department at the VSK Insurance House.

"During the holidays, the proportion of injuries in children's sports sections decreases, but the number of cases related to independent outdoor activities increases significantly, when people overestimate their training and go skiing or outdoor skating rinks," she said.

For example, in the city of Dalmatovo, Kurgan region, at night, the driver of a foreign car towed a tubing with a passenger. While driving away, the "cheesecake" rolled into the lane of oncoming traffic and collided with a woman who was riding an electric bike, the State Traffic Inspectorate of the region reported.

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People were treated for gastrointestinal disorders, elephant spit, and monkey bites.

"On January 2, a 24-year-old passenger of the cheesecake miraculously survived in Dalmatovo at night. It was established that the 22-year-old driver of a Kia Optima car was towing a tubing on which there was a young man born in 2001. Fans of extreme sports did not think about the danger they were putting themselves and other road users in. During the departure, the "cheesecake" rolled into the oncoming traffic lane, where an electric bike was hit," the department said. The cyclist was injured.

In Yekaterinburg, on January 6, 2026, a girl, going down the hill on a "cheesecake", knocked down a pensioner. The woman had severe bruising, swelling and bruising on her face. On the same day, an accident involving two children occurred in the Omsk region. According to law enforcement agencies, a 12-year-old boy on an ATV was riding a 15-year-old friend on a tube. A 15-year-old passenger was injured in the fall.

Why did the victims lose their vigilance

As noted by Maria Todorova, a family and child psychologist, the usual rhythm of life changes dramatically during the winter holidays: people spend more time outside the house, walk more often, and go for walks at night, when visibility and attention decrease.

— An additional factor is general relaxation — a festive mood reduces the level of self-control and caution, and the feeling of vacation creates the illusion of security, which is why the risks are underestimated. A separate role is played by the emotional and physiological exhaustion that has accumulated by the end of the year. Fatigue, lack of sleep, overeating, and alcohol consumption impair coordination, slow down reactions, and increase the likelihood of falls and domestic injuries," the specialist explained the situation.

This applies to both adults and teenagers, who are more often involved in active and sometimes unsafe forms of leisure during the holidays: roller coaster rides, extreme winter entertainment, and the use of pyrotechnics without proper supervision.

— During the holidays, people tend to engage in joint activities in order to be together, not always correlating their physical abilities with the chosen recreation format, the psychologist explained. — Parents often take on the role of permissive, relaxing boundaries for the sake of children's joy, which increases the risk of injury.

With the arrival of cold weather, the number of patients in trauma wards is increasing dramatically, said Roman Ivanov, an expert at the Hemotest laboratory. Even an ordinary fall on the street can cause serious injury.

— One of the most common and dangerous types of winter entertainment is snowboarding, — the doctor noted. — Before rolling down the slide, it is important to evaluate the "track", see how many people are on the slope, whether there are dangerous obstacles along the slide — trees, large rocks, snow removal equipment, into which a "cheesecake" can crash. It is strongly recommended not to overload the tubing or move out in a hitch — by attaching one "cheesecake" to another. And even more so, you can not attach them to the car.

Skiing and snowboarding often results in sprains, fractures, and sometimes traumatic brain injuries. To be safe, it is important to choose a skating route according to your skill level. Be sure to think about the equipment and use protection — knee and elbow guards, helmet.

— Most often, an injury occurs when two skiers collide, therefore, before descending, it is necessary to take into account the load on the slopes, and stop only at the edge of the track in a clearly visible place, — Roman Ivanov pointed out.

Another dangerous winter pastime is fireworks. On New Year's Eve and during the winter holidays, dozens of people are burned every year due to improper use of pyrotechnics. It must be purchased in specialized store departments. Before using it, you should carefully read the instructions, and then follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Pyrotechnics should not be used indoors or on balconies.