A study by specialists from Akita University, published in Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery, showed that adopting a protective position—lying face down—when encountering a bear can prevent severe injuries.
Scientists surveyed 70 people who experienced bear attacks in 2023. Most often, the victims sustained injuries to the face, hands, and palms.
The authors of the study compared the survivors' accounts with medical data. Out of the 70 surveyed, 23 individuals suffered multiple injuries that required anesthesia and amputation of fingers or limbs. In six cases, facial nerve paralysis was recorded, and four other victims experienced vision impairments.
At the same time, seven people, or 10% of the total, managed to avoid serious injuries: they lay face down and covered their heads and necks with their hands when encountering the animal.
