How to Prevent Falls -

How to Prevent Falls -
As a much younger friend reminded me, a little household dirt never killed anyone,
but landing hard on bathroom fixtures is a common cause of fall-related injuries and even deaths among people of all ages, and especially those in and beyond their seventh decade.
When walking indoors, always wear shoes or slippers with nonskid soles — not barefoot (unless you want a broken toe),
and never just socks unless they have nonslip grips on the soles.
A map of fatal falls in the United States, published last April in the AARP Bulletin, provides graphic testimony: Wisconsin
and Minnesota, two of our coldest states, led the nation in deaths from falls among residents 65 and older.
Most dwellings contain a catalog of trip hazards, including piles of papers, loose carpets or floorboards, extension cords
and clothing carelessly dropped on the floor, not to mention water or grease on the kitchen or bathroom floor.
I now ask a tall customer or store clerk to help retrieve a grocery item on the top
shelf, instead of standing on the edge of a lower shelf to reach or knock it down.
Nearly three times as many people die after falling (some 32,000 a year) than are killed by guns in the United States.