Slips and falls are serious anywhere, but if you concentrate just on occurrences in private homes, an arresting statistic jumps out right away- falls are responsible for 50% of all accidental deaths in the home.
Let’s take a look at two of the top causes of a slip and fall in a private home. We can take a look at how they happen, how to avoid them yourself, and how to make sure your home is safe for guests, repair people, and anyone else.
Obviously, the statistic above is a sobering piece of information for anyone, but this is especially true for anyone living with and/or caring for elderly family members. According to the National Floor Safety Institute, every year 30% of people over the age of 65 will sustain a fall. Apparently, for every decade of life lived, the likelihood of a fall increases. And these falls can have terrible effects on people’s lives. Most people over 75 who sustain a hip injury from a fall are not able to care for themselves independently after the event.
And that death statistic takes an even darker turn when we consider exclusively older populations: 67% of fall fatalities are among people aged 75 years or older.
To ensure the people from older generations are safe in your home, the best defense is monitoring. Whether this is digital or in-person will depend on the person themselves. Get advice from your doctor about what your relatives can handle on their own. Make sure there are railings close by to the bed, shower, and chairs being used. Make sure shoes and slippers are in good shape and offer the assistance of a walker or cane if needed. You may also have to educate the person about how to use the device, which may require a doctor visit or an occupational therapist.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), floors and flooring materials contribute directly to more than 2 million fall injuries each year. In fact, the majority of injuries stemming from falls occur at ground level, not from an elevation. And floors themselves are not the only problem; rugs and carpets are often to blame as well. Threads can get caught on someone’s foot, or the material can get bunched together, causing serious accidents.
For the safety of you and your guests, make sure to do a walk-through on a regular basis. Take note of any uneven surfaces, bunched-up rugs, or broken stairs. Put these at the top of your to-do list, especially before any decorative jobs. Dealing with an unstylish kitchen is a lot better than a broken leg.
Even after taking all the precautions possible, accidents still happen. If you have suffered a fall on private or public property, reach out to a qualified attorney to help you make sense of the situation. And, even in an uncertain world, we can all increase our safety by remaining calm, taking it slow, and looking where we are going. No matter what may be on the ground, if you see it and avoid it, it can not cause you an injury.
blogs
Commercial Truck Accidents
While it may not seem like it, there are bigger differences when dealing with a truck accident than just the size of the vehicle. Although they are well insured, companies with commercial trucks will fire back at you with a whole legal team to avoid paying out for damage, injury, or even death. This is […]
Safety and Defensive Driving Tips for Truck Drivers
The old saying goes, the best offense is a good defense. According to research, accidents caused by big rigs or the 18-wheelers have increased by 52% since 2009. Safe and defensive driving involves saving lives, time, and money regardless of the conditions around you or other road users. Defensive driving for truck drivers goes beyond […]
How Truck Accidents are Different from Car Crashes
Even though all types of auto accident are dangerous and have the potential to cause life-altering injuries, truck accidents are nearly, if not always catastrophic or fatal. Unfortunately, they’re becoming quite common. According to the Truck Safety Coalition, about 5,000 people died in truck crashes last year, marking a 46% increase in truck crash deaths […]
Five Safety Products for Motorcycle Riders
Approximately ten percent of motor vehicle deaths in the United States can be attributed to motorcycleaccidents. Safe riding and defensive driving are important to all motor vehicle operations, of course, but making sure you’re stocked up on the right equipment to make your ride as safe as possible is critical to avoiding accidents or, in […]
Hit by a Police Car? Here’s What You Need to Know
Although car accidents are pretty common on Californian roads, car crashes involving law enforcement officers are quite rare. However, this is not to mean they do not happen. A police officer might cause an accident during a police chase against a suspect, or even due to negligence. What do you do when you are injured […]
Workman’s Compensation — Beyond Physical Accidents
Every year in California, we see workman’s compensation claims that stem from traumatic injuries, accidents, and even accumulative physical strain. But what about the more subtle effects that can harm employees over time? Let’s take a look at toxic exposure in the workplace and what it means for you as an employee. If we are […]
Scooter Safety
Since the program began in 2018, when the city of Los Angeles legalized scooters and made a plan to distribute more, they have been a ubiquitous addition to the city streets. Touted as a boon to lower-income people who would have difficulty purchasing and maintaining cars, the scooters were a popular initiative. They were approved […]
Bicycle Safety in California
In a lot of ways, California is known as the driving capital of America, if not the world. Where else are so many people absolutely defined by their vehicles, their routes to work, and even their carbon footprint for transportation? The state requires some of the most stringent emission requirements across the nation and is […]
Rearview Cameras and You
While it was in 2018 that the rearview camera requirement went into effect on all new vehicles, the whole debate started in 2008. That was the year Congress passed a law for automakers to take steps to increase visibility. The debate was prompted by a horrible tragedy where a father accidentally backed over his infant […]
Five Products for Truck Driver Safety
Truck drivers are the backbone of the economy, and their safety is of the utmost importance. Not only are they at special risk of trafficaccidents, but truck driving comes with a host of other dangers. The easiest way to stay safe while driving any vehicle is being aware of your surroundings and making sure your […]
contact form
