This year, more than 10% of Washington Township Fire Department’s calls have been for incidents resulting from falls.  Sixty percent of these calls involved adults over the age of 65.

According to the American Geriatrics Society, more than one third of people over the age of 65 have at least one fall each year.  Even falls without injury can have negative effects on older adults. Often we find that elderly patients voluntarily restrict their activity because they fear falling. A viscous cycle of less exercise and activity results in further weakness that in turn may result in another fall. While falls resulting in injuries tend to occur more frequently in the elderly population, they are not isolated to this group. Everyone is at risk for falls.

To reduce your risk:

• Begin a regular exercise program. Exercise is one of the most important ways to reduce your chances of falling. Exercises that improve balance and coordination are the most helpful. Lack of exercise leads to weakness and increases your chances of falling. Ask your doctor or health care worker about the best type of exercise program for you.
• Make your home safer. About half of all falls happen at home. To make your home safer:
• Remove things you can trip over (such as papers, books, clothes, and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.
• Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping.
• Keep items you use often in cabinets you can reach easily without using a step stool.
• Have grab bars put in next to your toilet and in the tub or shower.
• Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.
• Improve the lighting in your home. As you get older, you need brighter lights to see well. Lamp shades or frosted bulbs can reduce glare.
• Have handrails and lights installed on all staircases.
• Wear shoes that give good support and have thin, non-slip soles. Avoid wearing slippers and athletic shoes with deep treads.
• Have your health care provider review your medicines, including ones that don’t require a prescription such as cold medicines. As you get older, the way some medicines work in your body can change. Some medicines, or combinations of medicines, can make you drowsy or light-headed, which can lead to a fall.
• Have your vision checked by an eye doctor.  You may be wearing the wrong glasses or have a condition such as glaucoma or cataracts that limits your vision.  Poor vision can increase your chances of falling.

Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS (Liaison to the Fire Department Community) – Alan’s career in the fire service spans more than 30 years. He is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist through the National Fire Protection Association and a member of numerous similar safety organizations. Alan consults with numerous fire departments throughout Ohio and in 2005 was chosen by the Ohio Department of Health as the fire service member on the Ohio School Inspection Advisory Committee. He was also awarded Ohio Fire Official of the Year in 2009 by the Ohio Building Officials Association. Alan is the Fire Marshal for the Washington Township Fire Department in Dublin, Ohio.

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses.