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Show Falls Biggest Cause Of Senior Citizen Fatals The No. 1 accidental killer of nior citicefM Is falls. Most occur in the home at floor level. Recent statistics show about 1 1 000 persons over 86 and older die each year as a result of alls -over 900 a month or about 200 every week! Even when a fall does not kill, it often inflicts severe Injury requiring long hospitalisation and convalescence, crippling physical independence, depleting savings and dignity. Those hard facts come from the Utah Safety Council which rails on the elderly, their families, friends and neighbors to take positive steps to fight ratal falls during 1977. "The ironic pairing of falls and the 'declining years' is a harsh reality for all too many of our senior cltiron " t'tnb safety Council President, Leo H Barlow noted, "Learnmg what the major culprits are and taking corrective action to control (hesc hanards in the oWer person's environment is the proven path to reducing the tragic toll rails are taking among the aing," advises Barlow. According to the council, the 'weapons' of fatal falls are, in this itroVr: floors and rugs, stairs, furniture, paved walks, roofs ladder and scaffolds. Want to join in taking a firm stand against falls' Here are ten ways to do ft: I. LIGHT THE WAY. It s a medical fact that the amount of light needed for seeing and reading increases with age. This Is especially true at night. Have proper lighting and use it! NtrrtJta should be used in Iwilf WWW Mid tMttWtXKM. 1. CAME FOR FLOORS. For hard surfaced floors, studies show a properly applied and maintained wax coating Is often safer than the surface on which it is used. The harder and dryer the wax coating, the safer It Is Spilled foods or liquids should be wiped up immediately. Between waxings, kep the floor dean with a dry never an oily- dust mop. 3. THROW OUT THOSE THROW HUGS. Other carpeting should be tacked down, placed on nonslip pads, or have nonslip backing applied. 4 KEEP I .ADDER USAGE TO A MINIMUM. Put things where they can be reached easily If items must be retrieved from high places, have a younger person do the climbing. If this can't be arranged, use only a solid ladder no chairs, or other makeshift devices and have a friend steady the base. 5. MAKE STAIRWAYS SAFE. Good lighting and handrails are a must. Use nonskid treads. Here's a good hint to prevent misstep with visual impact: paint the top and bottom steps white or paint a white strip at the edge of each step. To lessen skids on outside steps, sprinkle sand in with wet paint. 6. WEAR PROPER FOOTWEAR. Low, broad-heeled shoes with nonslip soles and heels are the comfortable, practical and safe footwear choice for everyone but especially the elderly. Bedroom and house slippers should fit snugly enough to stay on without flopping or drooping Avoid going about in stocking feet, particularly if the house or apartment has hard surfaced floors. For inclement weather. buy good, well-fitting, traction 7. AVOID OUTSIDE FALLS. Take those routes that are well-lighted with sidewalks, steps, etc. in good repair Make sure there are no falling hatards on your own property, holes, cracks, etc. In rainy and snowy weather, remove all wet leaves, water, sleet and snow and Ice from steps and walks; or spread salt, sand or cinders over them. 8. INTERIOR DECORATING FOR SAFETY. Arrange the furniture in your home so that traffic patterns are as straight and direct as possible. Halls should be free of furniture or other obstacles. Good housekeeping is a big help In preventing falls. Keep "debris" off the floor books, magazines, clothes, the telephone, dishes, etc 9. LEARN HOW TO FALL SAFELY. Many people's lives depend on learning how to fall correctly paratroopers, acrobats, athletes, comedians and yours does too! The secret is briefly this: Crumple like a sack and roll on the fleshy parts of the body. 10. BE CONSCIOUS-NOT UNCONSCIOUS! Think about what you are doing at all times. Don't let prc-occupation with personal matters let you "fall" into a trap of forgetting to put on the light, running down stairs, taking the wrong door to the cellar instead of the bedroom. Take your time. Safety experts are of one mind -carelessness and lack of sensible precautions seem to be the major behavioural factors in falls If you're 65 and older don't ruin your autumn years with a bad fall. |