How To Prevent And Treat Falls

Over 13,000 people are killed in the United States annually because of falls.  Tens of thousands of other people are injured in falls from autos, while at work, at home, on vacation, or shopping.  Falls can occur anywhere for a number of reasons, and anyone, of any age, can suffer from them.  However, most of the falls occur amo

ng older people, age 65 and over, and these are also the falls most likely to result in death.  First and foremost a first aid kit is a must.

What Causes Falls?

There are many reasons for falls, and most of them actually occur in or around the home.  Older people, and children, often do not have good balance, and can be prone to injuring themselves rather easily.  Sometimes, medication can cause dizziness or drowsiness which can contribute to the inability to stay upright.  This is especially true in those over the age of 65, and might necessitate an adjustment to medication.

Sad to say, pets are inadvertently responsible for some falls, too.  Anyone who has a cat or dog has, at one time or another, found the animal right in front of them when they were least expecting it.  Often, the very attachment the pet has for its owner will put the person at a higher level of risk.  Keeping the pet from sleeping at the owner’s feet or right next to the bed can help to prevent falls of this kind.

Falls can also be caused simply by moving around too quickly.  Children, and some adults, will run through the house, or up and down the stairs.  This sort of behavior can easily cause the person to knock into a piece of furniture, lose their balance, and fall.  Moving in a sensible way, and holding onto the bannister while using the stairs is a way to stay upright and healthy. Make sure to have a first aid kit readily available created with kids in mind.

Improperly closed doors and neglecting to use seat belts can cause a fall from a moving vehicle.  Going around a curve can throw a passenger into the door of the car, and if that door is not closed, the person can fall out.  Depending upon how fast the car was traveling, the injuries can be severe.  Obviously, making sure the doors are properly closed and seat belts are worn will keep passengers from falling from the vehicle.

Treating A Fall

How a fall is treated will depend, of course, on how serious the injury is.  A bruise on the leg or arm can be treated at home.  However, many falls, especially in the elderly, include serious injuries to the head or other bones.  Many older people have brittle bones, and these can easily be broken from even a relatively slight fall.  Assessing the injury is the first step to take when someone has fallen.  If the person is unconscious, or confused, assume a head injury and call emergency services immediately. First aid kits are essential in any home, classroom and office. Stock up today and prepared for tomorrow.

If the fall happens while camping or hiking, the victim’s condition must be determined quickly.  As with the above, a head injury or breakage of any bones means that help must be gotten as quickly as possible.  When near help, you can probably leave the person for a short time to summon aid.  If far from assistance, the injured party may have to be evacuated on an emergency basis.