Dr. Michael Mackowski is a general and vascular surgeon with Aurora BayCare.
He joined us on Wisconsin Tonight to talk about slips and falls during the winter months.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
* One in three older adults falls each year
* About 2.5 million nonfatal falls were treated in emergency departments in 2013
* Of those, 734,000 people were admitted to the hospital
* That year, 25,500 older adults died from unintentional falls
* More than 250,000 hip fractures are reported every year, and 95 percent of those are from falls
Many of these instances are preventable, hence, the need to remind people of the dangers of slipping and falling and ways to minimize the likelihood of experiencing a serious incident related to a slip and fall.
Inattentiveness, tripping over clutter, ice on the walkway … there are many reasons people slip and fall. Here are some factors that may make some more prone to slips and falls than others:
* Difficulties with walking and balance
* Use of medicines, such as tranquilizers, sedatives, or antidepressants. Even some over-the-counter medicines can affect balance and how steady you are on your feet.
* Vision problems
* Foot pain or poor footwear
* Home hazards or dangers such as broken or uneven steps, throw rugs or clutter that can be tripped over, and no handrails along stairs or in the bathroom.
Most falls are caused by a combination of risk factors. The more risk factors a person has, the greater their chances of falling.
Falls can have significantly more severe results, including, in extreme cases, death.
* Aches and pains:
* Pulled muscles, stretched tendons
* Sprained wrists and ankles and broken bones
* Tailbone bruises or fractures
* Back injuries
Severe results:
* Head/brain injuries
* Death
Tips for avoiding slips and falls:
Indoors:
* Remove clutter, small furniture, pet gear, electrical cords, throw rugs and anything else that might cause someone to trip.
* Arrange or remove furniture so there is plenty of room for walking.
* Secure carpets to the floor.
* Wipe up spills immediately.
* Use non-skid mats in the bath and shower.
Outdoors:
* Make sure outdoor areas are well lit and walkways are smooth and free from ice.
* Avoid walking on ice if it’s present and use cleared paths whenever possible.
* Ensure your shoes have good traction.
* Penguin walk (taking short, slow and deliberate steps) whenever you must cross snow/ice covered walkways.
* Don’t talk on the phone or text when walking through icy/snowy areas; pay attention to where you are going.
Fast Facts on slips and falls:
* According to the CDC, in 2005, more than 15,000 people over the age of 65 died as a result of a fall. Up from 7,700 a decade earlier.
* For people aged 65-84 years, falls are the second-leading cause of injury-related death; for those aged 85 years or older, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death.
* Falls represent 40% of all nursing home admissions and are the sixth-leading cause of death among people aged 70 years or older.
* Falls account for 87% of all fractures among people over the age of 65 and are the second-leading cause of spinal cord and brain injury.
For more information, visit baycare.net or call 877-677-5384.
