I quote from an NCOA article:
To locate this article, do a web search for the query Falls Prevention Facts
The site is “https://www.ncoa.org/”
“Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among persons aged ≥65 years, and the age-adjusted rate of deaths from falls is increasing.
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults age 65 and older, and the age-adjusted fall death rate is increasing. The age-adjusted fall death rate is 64 deaths per 100,000 older adults. Fall death rates among adults age 65 and older increased about 30% from 2009 to 2018”. WHO says “Each year an estimated 646 000 individuals die from falls globally of which over 80% are in low and middle income countries”.
I suggest research aimed at mitigating the situation. Orthopedics and other concerned specialists can try to find out what advice/training can be given to people at risk of having falls. What can be said? I offer an example. By no means do I suggest that this be used as advice till appropriate research is carried out and the real advice text is finalized.
Example of Possible Advice
1. You may sometimes feel that you are about to fall. You may get a few seconds to do something to reduce the possibility of getting badly hurt.
2. The following are points to remember and use. If your risk of a fall is high, your doctor may suggest suitable training to learn to cope with a fall.
3. If your risk of a fall is high, your doctor may suggest use of a suitable walking stick or other prosthetic device. Follow this advice.
4. If you are carrying something, drop it without hurting your toes. You may need your hands to break the fall.
5. If you can reach a chair or bench within one or two steps, use it and sit down. Remember flimsy chairs when tilted may fall themselves.
6. If you can reach a support within one or two steps, grab it.
7. If someone is accompanying you, alert them saying you are falling and ask for help.
8. If a chair or support is not available, quickly fold one leg at the knee and lower your body to the floor. Then put one hand on the floor to support you and sit down.
9. An important objective of this procedure to reduce the possibility of a head injury.
10. There might be a cardio-vascular problem behind the loss of balance. Tell any person helping you to call for advice/help to manage this possibility.
Apps on a watch or cellphone can monitor the gait of a person. Apps can be developed to display an index to show the falling-risk of the users so that they can seek preventive advice in advance. Specialists can train those at risk on a padded floor.
Srinivasan Ramani
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults age 65 and older, and the age-adjusted fall death rate is increasing.
- Badges
- Science topic