The slip kidnaps her everyday life: “Many don’t dare to go out”

It’s skating season and as usual, emergency rooms around the country are filled with people who have fallen on the ice.
One who has not slipped, but is hit hard by the slip every year, is 85-year-old Barbro, who now wants to see change in the highest place.
– We try to get spikes and sticks but it’s not enough, many don’t dare to go out, says Barbro.

It’s as common as pollen and the flu, but despite that, many people fall for it. Skiing season is here. Last year, there were 21,410 people who sought care in hospital after they slipped. And this year, several records have been broken at health clinics around the country.

There is high pressure in the emergency room and surgery. This is the orthopedist’s high season, and if you are older, you should ask relatives to shop and not go out when it is completely mirror-shiny, says Matthias Fassbender who is the head of the orthopedic clinic in Västerås.

Barbro and friends are isolated

One who did not slip and end up in the emergency room, but was still badly hit, is Barbro Olsson, 85 years old from southern Stockholm.

It’s really been up and down these days. I talk to people I meet and we are all very concerned. Many do not dare to go out. We try to get spikes, but it’s not really enough either, says Barbro Olsson in Efter fem.

“Feels forgotten”

The few times that Barbro actually goes out, it is for necessary purposes, such as resting the dog or going to the grocery store. And when she’s been out, she’s noticed something that also upsets her.

The sidewalks are neither plowed nor sanded, but the cycle paths are completely free of ice and snow. Why are they so keen to take care of bicycle and car owners, we pedestrians feel completely forgotten, says Barbro.

Want to see change

Barbro is not alone in being affected, she has friends in several places and many testify to similar situations. She mentions that it is such a big problem that she has friends who sit completely isolated. And now Barbro wants to see a change and that the politicians act on this.

I think those who are responsible for combating slippage on municipal roads should be held accountable. Today I spoke to a friend in Halmstad and she hasn’t been out for several days, says Barbro Olsson.