Fall Prevention Benefits All Age Groups

One of the top ten causes of death in the United States includes injuries sustained from falling down. Learning how to prevent a fall benefits people of any age - children, adults, and seniors. The following statistics echo the importance of this subject.

The Think First Foundation reports that 22% of total spinal cord injuries are caused by falls. Of further concern is that loss of bodily function (permanent paralysis) can occur even if the spinal cord is not severed!

During 1997, the Center for Disease Prevention (CDC) reported that more than 35,000,000 visits were made to emergency room facilities for injury treatment. No doubt many of these injuries were fall related. The National Osteoporosis Foundation indicated that of the people over the age of 65 who have become disabled, that one-third are disabled from fractures sustained during a fall. According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) "three out of every 10 visits to orthopedic surgeons (33%) included medication therapy ... Drugs used for pain relief accounted for more than one-half of the medications reported at orthopedic visits."

Now - consider the increasing number of people of all ages who engage in sports such as rock climbing, high diving, skiing, biking, and so on. You might say that falling down has taken on new meaning as sports rise to new heights!

Why People Fall
Many times falling can be avoided simply by becoming aware of why people fall.

Sometimes physical problems are a root cause such as poor vision, balance difficulty that affects walking, general physical instability, or side effects from medication that may cause drowsiness or dizziness. Of course, certain diseases, such as osteoporosis (porous bones) can magnify the injuries sustained as a result of a fall.

Another cause to be considered is the environment - our homes, where we work, and so on. Fortunately many of the environmental factors that may cause a fall are often controllable. For example - proper lighting, removing clutter, or simply wearing shoes with traction-friendly soles.