Nine tips for staying safe at home, avoiding falls
Falls are the top cause of home injuries, sending over one
million Americans a year to an emergency department for treatment.
million Americans a year to an emergency department for treatment.
“Most people think of their home as a safe haven – not as a
likely spot for accidents. Conditions that you take for granted – a pile of
items to take upstairs now stacked in a corner, a cord snaked across the floor
to charge a cell phone – may be hazardous to your health,” Regene Collier of Baptist Health Home Care in Lexington said in a news release.
likely spot for accidents. Conditions that you take for granted – a pile of
items to take upstairs now stacked in a corner, a cord snaked across the floor
to charge a cell phone – may be hazardous to your health,” Regene Collier of Baptist Health Home Care in Lexington said in a news release.
Collier suggests that you take a fresh look at your home environment and take these
easy steps to remove hazards:
easy steps to remove hazards:
· Create
clear, uncluttered pathways.
clear, uncluttered pathways.
·
Remove
throw rugs or install non-skid backing on them.
Remove
throw rugs or install non-skid backing on them.
·
Move
electrical cords out of walkways. Coil or tape cords next to walls to avoid
having to walk over or around them.
Move
electrical cords out of walkways. Coil or tape cords next to walls to avoid
having to walk over or around them.
·
Make
sure handrails on stairs are sturdy. Install handrails on both sides if
possible.
Make
sure handrails on stairs are sturdy. Install handrails on both sides if
possible.
·
Rearrange
items in your kitchen so that you can reach them easily.
Rearrange
items in your kitchen so that you can reach them easily.
·
Place
a light near your bed where it is easy to reach.
Place
a light near your bed where it is easy to reach.
·
Install
lights on stairs and night lights in hallways.
Install
lights on stairs and night lights in hallways.
·
Use
grab bars in the tub or shower.
Use
grab bars in the tub or shower.
·
Put
a non-slick mat or stick on strips in the floor of the tub or shower.
Put
a non-slick mat or stick on strips in the floor of the tub or shower.
Collier said making these changes to your home or office will help to
reduce your risk of falling.
reduce your risk of falling.