Fall Prevention Baldwin Area EMS Department - Emergency Ambulance, EMT's, EMS, CPR & First Aid Training

SENIOR FALL AND INJURY PREVENTION

(Child fall prevention information below)

Health and medication can affect balance, flexibility, and strength.

Have vision/eyewear prescriptions, and ears/hearing checked regularly.
Talk to your doctor about drug side effects and interactions with other medications that can cause blurry vision or dizziness.
Exercise regularly to promote strong bones, flexibility, and balance.

Step smart – watch how and where you walk.

Wear supportive low-heeled shoes with soles that provide traction. Avoid walking in loose fitting slippers or in socks.
Be cautious of tripping hazards and slick weather conditions when walking outdoors.
Carry a small load that you can see over and leave a hand free to grasp railings.
Avoid walking on uneven or poorly maintained surfaces, along cluttered sidewalks, or in poorly lit places like theaters. Only use stairs with handrails.

Make the stairways and steps safer.

Securely install handrails on both sides and be sure the rail extends past the last step.
Always turn on a light in stairways. Have a switch at the top and the bottom of the staircase.
Maintain floor coverings, tack down carpet edges and keep stairs/steps clear of items.
Step slowly with your hands free to grasp the rails.

Remove tripping hazards from pathways and living spaces.

Remove loose area rugs or secure to the floor with double-sided tape.
Eliminate excess or oversized furniture and objects. Select chairs/sofas with sturdy arms.
Provide bright, even lighting and be sure you don’t have to walk through a dark room to turn on a light. Install night-lights.
Secure slack in phone and power cords and keep them out of pathways.

In the kitchen...

Store often-used and heavy products within reach and in low cabinets.
Only climb on sturdy step stools with handrails to reach – never a stool or chair with wheels.
Clean up spills immediately.

In the bathroom...

Use rubber bathmats or non-skid strips in tubs/showers.
Install at least two grab bars and secure a stool in the tub.
Use raised toilet seats and/or handrails.
Wipe up water from the floor immediately.

In the bedroom...

Have a night-light and/or keep a light or flashlight at your bedside.
Keep floor free of discarded clothing and pathways free of obstacles.
Keep a telephone and emergency numbers on a low table in case you fall or can’t stand up.

Elsewhere around the house...

Keep floors clear and pathways free of obstacles.
Keep a telephone and emergency numbers on low tables in case you fall or can’t stand up.

If you should fall...

Call for 9-1-1 for help.
Keep warm while waiting for help by covering up with a blanket, coat, or even a rug.
See a doctor, even if you don’t think you are hurt and especially if you don’t know why you fell. It could be a sign of illness or a problem with medications.

Injury Prevention

Fall Prevention - Children
Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal, unintentional injuries and emergency department visits for children younger than 15. Each year in the United States, there are more than 120 fall-related deaths and 2.5 million emergency department visits among this age group. Children less than 5 years old account for more than 50% of both categories.

The majority of fall-related injuries in children ages 0 to 5 years occur at home, most often due to a lack of appropriate supervision. This includes leaving an infant on a changing table or other surface for "just a minute," or allowing a toddler to play in a room with non-secured windows or to be on a balcony with ineffective railing protection. Many infants injured in falls are in the same room as their caregiver.

Most infant falls are from furniture, stairs, or walkers (older walkers can pose multiple risks of injury).
Most toddler falls are from windows and balconies.
Most falls involving older children are from bikes, skateboards, scooters, and playground equipment.
Twice as many fall-related injuries in children aged 5 to 14 years occur at home versus school.

More facts about falls:

Pediatric falls are associated with the combination of curiosity and lack of motor-skill development (the former generally outpacing the latter), thus children ages 10 and under are at greatest risk for death or serious injury from falls.
Seventy percent (70%) of pediatric falls occur between noon and early evening during warm weather.
Most falls from windows involve male children younger than 5 years old, and commonly occur in low-income, high-occupancy, multi-family housing.
Children living in apartment buildings are more likely to fall from windows than those living in single-family dwellings.
Apartment/condominium complexes are more likely to have balconies and walkways than houses and duplexes.
Even railing bars spaced five inches apart can allow small children to slip through.

Child Fall Prevention Tips

Proper supervision is essential:

NEVER leave children unattended on changing tables, beds, sofas, etc.
Strap children into highchairs, swings, strollers, etc.
Don’t let children play unattended on balconies, porches, and/or fire escapes.
Don’t let children play near windows or patio doors.

Don't create your own hazards:

Avoid use of baby walkers on wheels; all baby walkers should meet current ASTM standards.
Use safety gates at tops and bottoms of stairs if infants or toddlers are in the home; gates should meet ASTM standards.
Move furniture away from windows and draperies.
Window screens are intended to Keep Bugs Out not Kids In: install window guards where needed. Use window guards that meet current ASTM standards for emergency exiting.
Use slip-resistant mats or stickers in bathtubs.