Falls are the number one cause of home injuries in the U.S. The two groups most at risk for falls are children under the age of 5 and adults over the age of 70. Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries for all children ages 0 to 19. Every day, approximately 8,000 children are treated in U.S. emergency rooms for fall-related injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of older people–those 65 and older–fall. One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury. Falls result in more than 2.8 million injuries treated in the emergency departments annually, including over 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 27,000 deaths. Typical injury symptoms are sharp pain, swelling, bruising, and tenderness.
What Can You Do?
Although many falls result in mild bumps, cuts, and bruises, some can cause serious injuries that need immediate medical attention.
Call 911 for emergency help if the child or adult:
- Has seriously injured the head, neck, back, hip bones, or thighs
- Is unconscious
- Has trouble breathing
- Isn’t breathing (start CPR if you know how to do so)
- Has a seizure
If the child or adult isn’t vomiting and doesn’t have any of the symptoms above:
- Comfort them and look for any injuries.
- Place a cold compress or ice pack on any bumps or bruises.
- Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain, if alert.
- Let them rest, as needed, for the next few hours.
- Watch them closely for the next 24 hours for any unusual symptoms or behavior.
Get medical care if they:
- Become very sleepy or find it difficult to wake up
- Become easily annoyed or upset and cannot be comforted
- Vomit more than once
- Complain of head, neck, or back pain
- Complain of increasing pain anywhere
- Are not walking normally
- Do not seem to be focusing his or her eyes normally
- Have any behavior or symptoms that worry you
How Can You Safeguard Your House From Slips, Trips, and Falls?
There are simple, practical measures you can take to prevent slips, trips, and falls in your house, including:
- Clean up spills immediately in the kitchen and bathroom or on hardwood floors.
- Clear clutter and obstacles from hallways and walkways.
- Close cabinet and desk drawers when not in use.
- Replace burnt-out light bulbs promptly.
- Replace worn-out flooring, loose carpet, slippery throw rugs, and wooden floorboards that are sticking up.
How Can You Prevent Falls for Children?
There are several things you can do to prevent falls for children, including:
- Never leave infants and young children on a bed or any other furniture unsupervised.
- Never put an infant in a baby seat on top of a counter or other high surface.
- Childproof against falls with gates, and don’t use walkers.
- Always strap young kids into high chairs, changing tables, shopping carts, and strollers.
- Make sure kids always wear helmets when biking, skating, and using skateboards or scooters.
How Can You Prevent Falls for the Elderly?
As you age, you become more susceptible to slips, trips, and falls because eyesight, hearing, and balance tend to worsen. Medication can also cause imbalance and confusion, which can lead to falls.
To prevent slips, trips, and falls as you age, consider these safety tips:
- Stay physically active to maintain strength, healthy bones, and balance. Those with limited mobility may need to be approved and supervised. Some exercise can be done while sitting in your chair!
- Have your eyesight and hearing checked regularly
- Know the side effects of your medication. Talk to your doctor if your medicine makes you feel dizzy, sleepy, or confused.
- Get enough sleep.
- Limit how much alcohol you drink.
- Use a cane or walker as needed, especially when walking in an unknown area or an area with an uneven surface.
- Wear non-skid shoes. Be sure your shoes fit well and are comfortable.
- Install non-slip strips or mats on the floor of the bathtub or shower.
- Arrange furniture with enough space to open up the walking area. This is very beneficial to those using walkers or canes.
- Install a nightlight in your bedroom/restroom areas. Have appropriate lighting in all areas of the home.
- Use assistive devices: install handrails in hallways and grab bars in shower and bath areas. Install raised toilet seats.
- Know your limitations and stay within them.
What Are The Risk Factors for Falls in the Elderly?
Risk factors for falls in the elderly include increasing age, medication use, cognitive impairment, and sensory deficits.
How Are Elderly Patients Who Fall Evaluated?
Elderly patients who have fallen should undergo a thorough evaluation that includes a focused history with an emphasis on medications, a directed physical examination, and simple tests of postural control and overall physical function. Treatment is directed at the underlying cause of the fall and can return the patient to baseline function and reduce the risk of recurrent falls.
Since falls can be the result of certain inner ear balance disorders, which create vertigo or other forms of disequilibrium, patients may be referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist and clinical audiologist for evaluation and vestibular (inner ear) testing.
What Can Go To Ortho Do for You?
Go To Ortho provides full-service trauma care. We are board-certified orthopedic surgeons with privileges at all major hospitals in Portland, including some surgery centers.
When slips, trips, and falls cause:
- Fractures and breaks
- Knee and shoulder injuries
- Hip and pelvic injuries
- Hand injuries
- Sprains and strains
What Are The Three Types of Falls For The Elderly?
There are three types of falls that are common among elderly patients. Oftentimes, assessing the type of fall that occurs can help best determine which treatment can be the most beneficial to patients.Â
The three types of falls include:
Physiological (Anticipated) Falls –Â These types of falls are considered anticipated falls. In other words, these falls can be seen as logically possible due to increased risk factors in patients who suffer from physiological falls. Risk factors such as an altered mental state, an abnormal gait, or being on high-risk medications can lead to physiological falls.
Physiological (Unanticipated) Falls – This type of fall typically occurs in patients where the risk for falling is low and not as high as in patients who suffer from physiological (anticipated) falls. Low-risk factors typically involve the effects of an underlying health condition. However, the probability of a fall occurring is highly unpredictable. Seizures, strokes, or a syncopal episode may all lead to physiological unanticipated falls.
Accidental Falls – Accidental falls typically happen to low-risk patients, but they are often caused by an environmental hazard, such as uneven flooring or an unseen step. These falls sometimes result in accidental injury.
How Many Falls Are Too Many For The Elderly?
Suffering from a fall at a mature age can have huge effects on your overall health. A total of two falls is typically very damaging to the body at an elderly age. If you have previously suffered an injury from a fall, this recovery can be difficult, as the body may not be able to heal as quickly as it would in its younger years.Â
What Health Conditions Can Cause People to Fall?
Elderly patients who have diabetes, heart disease, or problems with their nerves, feet, and blood vessels may be affected by the inability to balance themselves, putting them at risk for a potential fall. Conditions that require elderly patients to stand and move around a lot, such as the need to use the bathroom often may also increase the risk of falling.
What Neurological Conditions Cause People to Fall?
Unfortunately, falls are common among people with neurological conditions. You may be at a higher risk of falling if you have the following neurological conditions:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cerebral palsy
- Stroke
- Muscular dystrophy
What Drugs Increase The Risk of Falling?
There are certain drugs and medications with common side effects such as drowsiness, fatigue, or dizziness that may also increase your risk of a fall. These drugs and medications can include:
- Nitrazepam
- Diazepam
- Temazepam
- Amitriptyline
- Dosulepin
- Chlorpromazine
- Phenobarbital
- Chlorpheniramine
- Hydroxyzine
How Long Does It Take to Recover From a Fall?
The time it takes to recover from a fall can vary from patient to patient. On average, if you suffer injury from a fall, minor injuries involving soft tissue damage may heal in weeks, while broken bones or sprains can take several months to fully heal. For elderly patients, most slip-and-fall injuries will require months of recovery, especially if you suffer from other physical ailments such as arthritis or joint pain.
No matter what type of fall occurs or what type of injury you sustain, the highly experienced and dedicated team at Go To Ortho is ready to help you achieve a full and successful recovery.
Schedule a Consultation at Go To Ortho
At Go To Ortho, our mission is to provide beneficial recovery treatments and techniques to patients in Portland, OR. Under the expertise of four highly qualified orthopedic surgeons – Dr. Steven Madey, Dr. Amer Mirza, Dr. Britton Frome, and Dr. Corey Vande Zandschulp – our team is ready to help you heal from your injuries. Schedule a consultation with us today by clicking here or calling 503.850.9950 to find an office location near you. Walk-ins are welcome.
- https://www.cdc.gov/safechild/falls/index.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html
