When someone trips on a crooked
sidewalk or slips on a patch of ice one’s
natural instinct is to reach out for the ground with your hands. This increases
your chances of harm. Hands, wrists, and arms are full of small bones that are
easily broken. On
your way down, you might have time to think about how you're going to land. It
can make the difference between breaking a bone or walking away bruised, but
intact.
According to the National Safety Council, slips, trips and falls account for nearly 9 million emergency room visits. This makes falling one of the leading causes of accidental injuries in the United States, and the second leading cause of unintentional death. Falling is especially dangerous when we're older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says one out of five falls taken by people over 65 results in a broken bone or a head injury. If you know you're going to fall, follow this advice.
1.
Aim to land on your side or butt: As you go down,
twist or roll your body so you land on one of these areas rather than your
back. One exception: If you're at risk of fractures because you have
osteoporosis or some other bone disorder, it's better to fall onto your rear
end. You could break a hip if you land on your side.
2.
Keep your wrists, elbows and knees bent: Do not try to break
the fall with your hands or elbows.
3.
Turn and tuck: If you're going down, protect your head by turning it to
the side and tucking your chin down toward your chest.
After the fall: These tips for seniors are good advice for
anyone following a fall.
1.
Bring
one foot forward so you're in a kneeling position, and then push your body up
to sit or stand.
2.
If
necessary, use a stable object such as a chair to help you get up. Crawl to one
if there's nothing nearby to grab onto.
3.
If
you're okay, roll onto one side. Rest a minute if you need to, and then get
onto your hands and knees.
4.
Stay
on the floor or ground for a few minutes. Take time to make sure you aren't
hurt before you get up.
“So go ahead, [and] fall down. The world looks different from
the ground. “(Oprah Winfrey)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“How to Avoid Hurting Yourself If You Slip or Trip and Fall” by Maura Rhodes
·
“How
to Fall Down Without Getting Hurt” by Hal
Needham
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