Six Steps to prevent Falls in the Home

Falls are the leading cause of death from unintentional injuries for older adults, with nearly 17 million senior citizens suffering a fall each year.  Rabun County Assistant Fire Chief Justin Upchurch offers this safety advice about falls.  “The National Council on Aging has designated Sept. 18-24, as Fall Prevention Week.  With 1 in 4 older adults being affected, falls can result in hip fractures, broken bones, and even head injuries.  Every 11 seconds, an older adult is seen in an emergency room for fall-related injuries and most of these are preventable.  We have six steps to help prevent a fall.  1) Find a good balance and exercise program.  Look to build balance, strength, and flexibility.  2) Talk to your healthcare provider.  Ask for an assessment of your risk of falling and share your history of recent falls.  3) Regularly review your medications with your doctor or pharmacist.  Make sure the side effects aren’t increasing your risk of falling and be sure to take your medication only as prescribed.  4) Get your vision and hearing checked annually and update your eyeglasses.  Your eyes and ears are key to keeping you on your feet.  5) Keep your home safe.  Remove tripping hazards, increase lighting, make stairs safe, and install grab bars in key areas.  6) Talk to your family members.  Enlist their support in taking simple steps to stay safe.  And falls are not just a senior citizen issue.”  Fifty-two million Americans aged 65 or older make up 16% of the U.S. population, yet they experience disproportionate injuries and deaths from fires and falls, twice the general population when it comes to fires.