Home Sweet Home: Simple Steps for Senior Slip and Fall Prevention
Seniors are the most vulnerable group when it comes to slips and falls. You’ve lived your whole life. You’ve seen, and experienced, a lot. The last thing you want is to spend time in a hospital because of a broken leg, hip, or a fractured knee.
Here are some of the most common reasons you might slip and fall, and how to prevent that from happening to you.
Be Mindful Of Your Surroundings
You’ve probably heard this before, but you have to live “in the moment.” That means being aware of what’s going on around you. If your mind wanders, or you’re thinking about something else while walking or doing anything else (or even if you’re just sitting there, minding your own business), you’re asking for trouble.
For example, let’s say you’re coming downstairs in the morning. You start thinking about what you have to do. Maybe you pull out your cell phone or you start letting your mind wander. That’s when you might fall.
Pay attention to the steps, and use railings when available. Look for a defect in the carpet or steps or risers. If you feel dizzy, stop. make sure you have a firm grip on the ailing, and take a deep breath.
Go slow.
Look And Listen
Form the habit to pause, look, and listen to your surroundings. Think before entering your own living room even. This is especially true when you first get up in the morning or before bed and if the lights are out.
When you’re in your car, while still in park, or when your foot is on the brake. Make sure you understand what’s going on around you before you pull out into the street.
The Three-Look Method
This is a principle you use when entering a room, regardless of whether it’s in your own house or a business, or anywhere, really. Make sure you look low at the floor, street, or rug level. If there’s anything that might give you a problem like loose rugs, high curbs, or objects that could obstruct your path, stop. Go around them, or avoid them.
Look level. Look at about chair level to make sure nothing is in your way. Then, look up toward the ceiling to make sure it’s safe and that you won’t bump your head on something.
Never Rush
Always take your time and never rush into anything. Never rush to open the front door. However long it takes you to walk to the door and answer is however long it takes.
What Happens If You Fall?
You’ve done everything you can, but you’ve fallen anyway. Now what?
If you’ve fallen in someone else’s home or at a business, call for help. You will want an accident report filled out, you’ll want to document your injuries, and will want to contact David Resnick and Associates PC, Glendale personal injury lawyers, for legal advice.
If you’ve fallen at home, here’s what you do:
First, stay where you are. Take a few deep breaths, and then use your medic-alert call device or your cell phone to call for help.
Finally, despite your carefulness, you should know what steps to follow if you’ve taken a fall.
If you can get up, do so.
But, if you can’t, do a self-check to assess where and how you might be injured. You’ll quickly sense how badly you’re hurt or whether you’ve broken a bone.
If possible, roll to your side. Bend your knees up to your waist. Inch your way over to a stable object. Scrunch up close to that object and try to pull yourself up. Sit down as soon as possible.