Falling down is quite natural and it occurs all through our life. Sometimes, fall can result in minor hurt or swelling that subsides on its own within a week. But in situation where fall results in severe life-altering injury is a matter of concern. Anyone can fall but the risk and chance of fall increases under the following conditions
- Aged or older people are at higher risk of falling
- Person who is weak, tired, ill or physically unfit
- Loss of balance
- Poor muscle strength
- Certain medications that causes weakness, sleepiness, dizziness, and confusion
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Reduced bone density
- Hip problem
- Cataract (vision problem)
- Recent hospitalization
- Using an assistive walking device
- Impaired hearing
- Insufficient sleep
- Environmental hazards like slippery or wet floor, walking in an obstructive pathway, poor lighting or walking in darkness, uneven surface, crowded region
Why is falling down a health concern?
Falling down is a major concern because it is the second leading cause of hospitalization and death in older adults. Sometimes fall can be fatal that, it is estimated that about 424,000 people die globally due to fall. Falling down is a sign that shows that something is going wrong internally that is more serious than falling. Therefore, if a person has recently fallen down he should not ignore it as the chance of one more fall is pretty high. About 50% of people who fall suffer from injuries out of which 10% requires hospitalization. And the risk of fracture, especially hip fracture, increases with fall. About 23% of hip fractured people die within the first year and 50% suffer from a chronic hip pain all throughout their life. Fear of fall increases in people who have suffered a major injury or hip fracture, it can result in loss of physical condition that is required to prevent future fall. Fear of falling can also result in anxiety and depression.
Tips to lower the risk of falling
People may fall anywhere, but following simple precautious steps can prevent falls. As home is the place where most of the time is spent let’s begin with safety tips that should be followed at home. Proper lighting is very important to avoid tripping over an object that is difficult to see. Make sure that a small light is lit in the bedroom, bathroom, hallways, and stairs all night. Keep the walking area free of any obstacles like books, paper, chair or clothing. Put nonslip treads on stairs. Make sure that rugs are firmly fixed to the ground and they do not have any loose endings. Get a rug with nonskid back. Avoid walking in dark. Use chairs that do not move and topple. Make sure that the chair has hand rest to help sitting and standing. Hang light-weight curtains and shades to reduce glare. Tie up all the electrical cords that are lying down on the ground or in walking area. Have hand rails in bathrooms for shower and toilet use. In kitchen, keep all things within easy reach. Reaching things that are placed too high using a stepladder or stool can result in fall and placing them too low should be avoided as it requires bending low down to reach them. Wear shoes that fit properly and wear the one that has nonskid sole.
Other tips
Apart from making these small changes at home, it is important to take extra care and stay healthy to prevent fall. Few tips to stay healthy are
- Consult an eye specialist and check vision problem like cataract
- Regular physical exercise will help strengthen bones and muscles
- Consult a doctor if large nail or corn is present in the feet
- Discussing with doctor the side-effects of medicine prescribed
- Contact doctor if feeling dizzy
- Consult a doctor about using cane walker or other walking assistance. But the person should be sure about using it properly
- Do not over drink or over do drugs
- When a person gets up in the morning or at night to use the bathroom, it is better to sit in the bed for few minutes as it might take some time for blood pressure to adjust. Getting up quickly can make the person feel dizzy and loss balance
- Drinking plenty of water can help maintain balance and prevent falling
First-aid for falls and injury
If a person has fallen down and is injured it is very important to react immediately and sensibly. Few important tips in handling a person who has just fallen are mentioned below
Call for emergency and do not move the person
- If he has severely injured his head, neck, back, hip bone, or thighs
- If unconscious or was unconscious for sometime
- If he has difficulty breathing or isn’t breathing
- If he has seizures
- If he is bleeding from mouth, nose or ears
Call the doctor if the person
- Is sleepy and difficult to wake him up
- Vomits 2 or 3 times after the fall
- Has back or neck pain
- Severe pain anywhere in the body
- Is not walking steadily
- Does not focuses his eyes normally
- Behaves differently
If the person is not severely hurt and if moving him is safe then
- Apply ice or cold compressors in the region that is bruised
- Give him acetaminophen to reduce pain
- Ask him to rest for some time
Conclusion
Falls are something that happens suddenly and unexpectedly. Sometimes, even after being very careful and taking all precautious measures fall cannot be prevented. Falls are very common in young kids and in elderly people. It is the responsibility of all the family members to present a fall-free environment to elders or to other people who are at high risk of falling.
