Slips Trips and Falls

Annually, there are 1.6 million reported slips trips and falls among the population over the age of 65. There are potentially millions more unreported falls. For reported falls, 1% perished, 24% were treated and hospitalized and 76% were treated and released the same day.

Click here for a printable home safety tip sheet for older adults.

• About 1/3 of the population over the age of 65 falls each year, and the risk of falls increases proportionately with age. At 80 years, over 1/2 of all seniors fall annually.
• As alarming as they are, these documented statistics fall short of the actual number since many incidents are unreported by seniors and unrecognized by family members or caregivers.
• Frequent falling. Those who fall are two to three times more likely to fall again.
• About half (53%) of the older adults who are discharged for fall-related hip fractures will experience another fall within six months.
• Slips trips and falls are the leading cause of death due to injury among the elderly 87% of all fractures in the elderly are due to falls.
• Falls account for 25% of all hospital admissions, and 40% of all nursing home admissions 40% of those admitted do not return to independent living; 25% die within a year.
• Many falls do not result in injuries, yet a large percentage of non-injured fallers (47%) cannot get up without assistance.
• For the elderly who fall and are unable to get up on their own, the period of time spent immobile often affects their health outcome. Muscle cell breakdown starts to occur within 30-60 minutes of compression due to falling. Dehydration, pressure sores, hypothermia, and pneumonia are other complications that may result.
• Getting help after an immobilizing fall improves the chance of survival by 80% and increases the likelihood of a return to independent living.
• Up to 40% of people who have a stroke have a serious fall within the next year.
• 90% percent of falls that do not result in injury can still have a detrimental impact on health and well-being. 30-50% of elders report that fear of another fall results in loss of confidence and self-imposed restriction of activities, thereby increasing the risk of falls.
• 31% of all reported falls are a result of environmental/accidents (PREVENTABLE!).
• 55% of all falls take place inside the home.
• More than three-quarters take place either inside or in close proximity to the home, where a medical alert system can be of immediate assistance.
• More fall injuries are caused by falls on the same level (vs. stairs) and from a standing highlight, i.e. tripping while walking.
• $30 billion is spent annually on healthcare related to falls. Medicare costs alone for hip fractures as a result of falls is projected to be $240 billion by 2040.
• The average cost of a slip trip and fall injury was $19,440 (including hospital, nursing home, emergency room and home healthcare, but not physician services).

Maintaining a safe and happy home does not have to be a daunting or scary task. Let Home Hazard Prevention give you a comprehensive safety inspection, help create escape plans, train you on proper use of a fire extinguisher, and offer some guidelines on how to live a safer and healthier life in the privacy of your own home. Living safely is a big responsibility, but you do not have to do it alone. Home Hazard Prevention is here to help.

Home Safety Begins With You!

Each year, approximately 1,100 Americans ages 65 and older die as a result of a home fire. Compared to the rest of the U.S. population:

• People between 65 and 74 are nearly TWICE as likely to die in a fire.
• People between 75 and 84 are nearly FOUR times as likely to die in a fire.
• People ages 85 and older are more than FIVE times as likely to die in a fire.
• Careless smoking is the LEADING cause of fire deaths and second leading cause of injuries among people ages 65 and older.
• Heating equipment is the SECOND leading cause of fire death and the third leading cause of injury to people ages 65 and older.
• Cooking is the THIRD leading cause of fire deaths and the leading cause of injury among people ages 65 and older.

With a few simple steps and a Residential Safety Inspection from Home Hazard Prevention, older people can dramatically reduce their risk of death and injury from fire. Older Americans are at risk for a number of reasons: They may be less able to take the quick action necessary in a fire emergency. They may be on medication that affects their ability to make quick decisions. Or they may live alone and when accidents happen others may not be around to help.

Fire Safety

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to have a working combination smoke/carbon monoxide detector that can sound fast in response to a fire or the products of combustion that coincide with fires. Smoke alarms greatly reduce your chances of dying in a fire.

Fires often times start in the kitchen area, so be extra careful when cooking. Don’t leave food unattended and don’t wear loose clothing, like shirts with big sleeves, while cooking. Be sure to never use your oven or stove to heat your home and double check that all of the appliances are turned off before leaving your house or going to bed. Be sure to buy space heaters that have been evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Use only the recommended fuel, do not store potentially flammable materials within 3 feet of the heater, and do not use any electrical equipment in damp or wet locations unless approved for those specific conditions. Be sure to never smoke in your bed, use safety ashtrays at all times, and replace mattresses made prior to the 2007 Federal Mattress Flammability Standard. Be sure to have an escape plan drawn out and practice the escape routes frequently.

Information provided by FEMA, the United States Fire Administration & LearnNotToFall.com