You are bound to slip, trip or fall if there are trip hazards lying in different areas of your home. There are many people who trip or slip up on something that they didn’t know was there. Trips, slips and falls can be easily prevented when learn to do away with the trip hazards in your home.
What Statistics Have to Say
The statistics are gruesome: 3 falls out of 5 (60%) happens in the home. This means that when we consider ourselves the safest and are relaxed is when we are most vulnerable. This is especially true for the elderly.
If that wasn’t enough, falls are responsible for nearly 40% of injury-related deaths in those aged over 65. Common self-reported injuries include bruises, sprains, cuts and abrasions. The injuries that require one to be hospitalized however include leg fractures like the femoral neck and arm fractures including the Radius and Ulna. Neck and trunk fractures also contribute to this.
But the deadliest and costliest fall related injury is a hip fracture. The elderly population is prone to this and recover from it really slow. They can also suffer from complications on the bedside afterwards. 1 in 4 people over 65 years of age, who have suffered from a hip fracture, die; and a third of the survivors cannot regain total mobility.
After a fall, people can suffer from a drop in their confidence, be more hesitant and start to depend on others to move around.
However gloomy these statistics sound, there is always something that can be done for prevention.The risk of tripping and falling over can be minimized when we do away with the trip hazards present around your home.
Preventing Falls by Removing Hazards and Being Proactive
1. Be Clutter Free
One of the first things to do to prevent falls is to declutter the house. This is important as misplaced and cluttered objects can cause you to have difficulty moving. This is worsened by the fact that when you are tired and fatigued, it becomes difficult to be attentive of your surroundings. This makes you more susceptible to falls.
Therefore, start decluttering your home with some tips from Trip Safe.
2. Handrails and Night Lights for The Stairs
If you have stairs in your house, they can be a potential trip hazard, especially in the night when the visibility is low. To prevent falls and you should install a handrail as something you can hang on to, to prevent slips and falls. The Nightlights installed at foot level at the walls near the stairs can also help you see where you’re going so that you don’t trip and fall.
3. Adopt a Healthier Lifestyle
People who are more active have stronger muscles and don’t have stiff joints that may be a trip hazard in itself. Lifestyle choices also include the food you eat because that will provide the right nutrition to help you stay alert. Even the elderly can do this by practicing tai chi or yoga and eating healthy to prevent falls.
