Background Stay Standing – Winter Safety Campaign for Pedestrians is part of the Implementation Project on Prevention of Home and Leisure Injuries. SOSTE Finnish Federation for Social Affairs and Health is the chairman of the campaign and Finnish Red Cross is coordinating the entire project. Partners in the campaign include various non-governmental, governmental and private organisations. Partners are working in the fields such as injury prevention, traffic safety and weather and climate conditions.

Description of the problem Each winter every four out of ten of the Finns (total population 5.2 million) are slipping due to icy weather conditions. Half of them get injured. Slipping causes plenty of minor injuries. Slipping also causes severe injuries such as fractures, dislocation of joints and head injuries, which may lead to long term disability. Each year more than 5000 people are hospitalised overnight during icy or snowy weather conditions. Slipping does not vary among the adult age group.

Results The Campaign promotes safety through informing the associated risks, which rise throughout the winter. The campaign also provides information on risk reduction. January is the most active month of the campaign. The target group is chosen each year. Also, different communication channels for the campaign are chosen each year: TV-spots, radio, digi screen, printed material and seminars.

Conclusions Conducting the campaign in collaboration with various governmental and non-governmental organisations has been very useful. By effective communication, the campaign has equipped pedestrians the means in improving their safety during icy weather conditions.