June 7, 2013
Prevent falls at home; test your fall prevention knowledge
Falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries and rank third for unintentional deaths in the home and community. Most people have a friend or relative who has fallen, or maybe you’ve fallen yourself. Falls are largely preventable, and as our population ages, more and more individuals will see their risk of falling increase.
The risk of falling, and fall-related problems, rises with age. Adults 55 and older are more prone to becoming victims of falls, and the resulting injuries can diminish the ability to lead active, independent lives. The number of fall deaths among those 65 and older is four times the number of fall deaths among all other age groups.
Falls are also a serious issue for children, resulting in the leading cause of nonfatal injuries for all children ages 0 to 19. Every day, approximately 8,000 children are treated in U.S. emergency rooms for fall-related injuries. This adds up to almost 2.8 million children each year.
Windows play a vital role in home safety, serving as a secondary escape route in the event of a fire or other emergency, but they can also pose a risk for a fall if safety measures are not followed.
The fact is, people of all ages are vulnerable to falls and everyone will benefit from fall-proofing their homes and making lifestyle changes to decrease their risk of a fall leading to injury or even death. Take the time to remove slip, trip and fall hazards to keep your family safe.
For a list of preventative measures you can take to avoid falls and eliminate hazards in your home and tips to protect children, check out the following links:
- Fall-proofing your home
- Protect the ones you love: Falls
- Window safety checklist
- Older adult falls fact sheet
- Older adult fall prevention checklist
Test your knowledge: