Personal Injury Blog

Prevention Measures to Prevent Slip and Fall Accidentss

July 7th, 2011

slip and fall accident

slip and fall accident

Last week, the National Safety Council marked Fall Prevention Week to increase awareness about the need to prevent slip and fall accidents, especially those involving senior adults.

Older adults are at a much higher risk of suffering a fall accident than younger persons.  Adults aged 55 and above are at a particular risk of such accidents.  Fall accidents may be even more serious in older adults than in younger persons because these accidents leave people with serious injuries that can impact the rest of their lives.  For instance, fall accidents among the elderly often result in fractures.  Fractures in an elderly person can be much more difficult to heal because these persons typically suffer from a condition called osteoporosis, in which the bones become brittle and weak.

Los Angeles slip and fall lawyers have shown that elderly persons who suffer a fall accident have a diminished capacity to lead a productive, useful and normal life after the injury.  Older adults also have a much higher risk of death after a slip and fall accident.  The number of fall accident-related deaths among senior citizens above the age of 65 is at least four times the number of fatal falls in other age groups.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham are now researching elder fall accident prevention to coincide with Fall Prevention Week.  According to the researchers, they are specifically looking at the relationship between the risk of slip and fall accident and the person’s walking style and the direction he is looking at.  Specifically, the researchers are looking at how an individual’s risk of falling depending on where he’s looking, and what he’s looking at while he walks.

The researchers are specifically looking at certain theories.  For example, they’re looking at whether the risk of falling in the elderly is increased when the individual is looking straight at obstacles coming up ahead, instead of looking down at his feet.  When a person walks while looking straight ahead, he may miss out on obstacles in his direct path.  Such persons may be at a high risk of a fall.  According to the researchers, older adults who have a higher risk of fall accidents look straight ahead at obstacles in the distance, rather than down at immediate risks.

Fall accidents for an elderly person can mean disaster.  These persons are likely to suffer hip fractures, and may need a hip replacement surgery.  A hip replacement in an elderly person can mean a complete or partial lack of mobility, and the person may need to be admitted into a nursing home.  Additionally, other studies have indicated that an elderly person who suffers a hip fracture is at a much greater risk of dying within a period of one year after the injury.

Preventing fall accidents involving the elderly has much to do with mitigating fall hazards in the immediate environment.  Make sure that the floor is completely free of obstacles, including rugs.  Flooring should be made of high-traction material.  Avoid slippery surfaces, like granite floors.

 

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