Live Life Team
Every year thousands of cases of accidents are reported due to slips, falls etc. An injury resulting from a fall is often found to cause a grave injury, and bones and joints are primarily affected. Many a time these falls result in fatal conditions. Old people subjected to falls are more likely to suffer from serious injuries as their bones are brittle and recovery is difficult.
The factor contributing to maximum number of accidental death in a home setting is a fall. Other than death, the falls are also responsible for crippling or making people bed ridden for a longer duration. Safety practices and a better health are capable of preventing most of the falls or slips. There are even laws passed to ensure a safe working condition. Moreover in a working environment even the workers are held with the responsibility of managing their own health.
Causes
The chief causes for a fall or slip can be broadly classified into two. They are causes which are environment-related and health-related
The environment-related causes comprise of ladders that are unsafe, vertical stairs and slopes, slimy surfaces, obstructions that makes one trip and fall, foot wears that are bad or unsuitable, unclean areas, moving around swiftly, poor lighting, careless actions, distraction, shifting large articles etc
Health-related causes comprise of muscle weakness, drowsiness, feeling confused, feeling dizzy, reduced balance, and poor vision.
There are some medical conditions that are responsible for the health – related causes. These are stroke, dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, low blood pressure, arthritis, osteoporosis and coronary heart disease.
Conditions affecting ear like tinnitus, labyrinthitis or a condition involving inflammatory response of ear like otitis media can result in balance problems. There are several medications whose side effects result in various conditions that increase the risk of fall like drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, balance problems, etc. A person consuming more than 3 drug is more likely to develop these side effects due to an unfavourable interaction between the medicines.
How to manage
Upon experiencing a fall, the immediate thing is to stay calm and not panic. Check if you can move or sit up. If you are capable of, follow these steps:
Check for a firm object nearby to hold on
Do not haste and slowly get up
Just move on to a safe place and rest for some time.
If you feel quite hurt
Call out for help or if possible dial the emergency number.
Stay calm and move to a safe place if possible as you wait for someone to arrive.
Do not forget to report the fall to the physician. A detailed assessment will reveal even an internal injury.
Prevention
At home – clear up any mess immediately, avoid scattering things, fix handrails in bathroom, illuminate the house adequately and keep the house in an organized manner.
To remain healthy keep physically active, regulate alcohol usage, be careful when consuming strong medications and include diet rich in calcium and vitamin D in your menu.
