Reducing the risk of falls from happening in the home

Sometimes, tripping and falling is inevitable when obstructions seemingly appear out of nowhere and leave a person little time to react or move out of the way. In fact, slip and fall accidents can happen at home, at work and even at the grocery store. When people in South Carolina are aware of the hazards that can increase the risk of falling, they can be better educated to make informed decisions that will protect them and the people around them.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emergency rooms around the United States see an average of 3 million patients each year who have been injured in a slip and fall accident. Of these, over 800,000 are hospitalized as they recover from the injuries they sustained in their accident.

In an effort to reduce the risk of people slipping, tripping and falling, staysafe.org suggests that people do the following:

• Keep hallways, walkways and stairs free of debris and clutter.
• Keep walking areas well-lit.
• Use caution when walking around small pets and children.
• Wear proper footwear for doing certain household chores.
• Use ladders, step stools and other at-height resources with caution and responsibility.

It is also suggested that people make sure that slick surfaces inside and outside are properly maintained to prevent unnecessary injuries resulting from people slipping and falling. Doing things like removing tattered carpet, cleaning up spills in a timely manner and storing things in a functional and organized manner can all serve to reduce hazards that are commonly blamed for falls.