Getting older brings many things. Wisdom, memories, and experience are good examples. Unfortunately, getting older also brings increased risk of accidents and injuries, even in the supposed safety of our homes. Falling is a common cause of injury among older Americans, resulting in over 8 million trips to the emergency room for nonfatal injuries.
Recognizing and taking steps to identify areas that may pose a risk – such as sharp edges on furniture, slippery floors or rugs, or phone chargers that could cause a fall – is important can help keep you safe.
Preventing Everyday Accidents at Home
For starters, make sure that all areas of your home are well-lit. Poor visibility can lead to slips or falls on stairs, in hallways or on other items lying around which could be tripped over. Make sure all areas of the home have adequate lighting so potential hazards can be more easily seen.
Next, review if your stairs may have any uneven steps, railings, or even loose carpeting. Even though you may walk up and down the stairs multiple times a day, these tripping hazards are an accident waiting to happen.
Likewise, make sure rugs aren’t loose to prevent slipping or falling on Use double-sided tape to keep rugs in place.
Also be sure to clean all the clutter from the floor. Electrical cords, dangling phone chargers, or other wires are obvious examples, but so are items like shoes and bags. Make sure all items are kept neat and orderly.
And, just like you don’t want too many things on the floor, make sure your most used items aren’t too high. Keep these things items in a low, easy-to-reach place so you don’t have to use step stools as often.
In Case of Emergency
Even if you follow all these tips, accidents can happen. In the event of a fall or an injury, an emergency room visit might be necessary. Even if there’s no external injury, you want to be sure there’s no internal bleeding or trauma, especially if you’ve hit your head.
Protecting your health with simple, commonsense measures is important. So is protecting your savings. Getting a Medical Air Services Association (MASA) plan can prove to be one of the smartest things you ever do. If you require emergency medical transportation, an ambulance ride or air emergency transportation can cost thousands. With a MASA plan, you can focus on healing from your injury and not worry about the unexpected expense of your ride. MASA is available through your association and ASBA. Learn more by visiting www.AMBAmedtransport.com or call 877-290-3170.
Sources:
https://www.gohealthuc.com/library/how-prevent-most-common-household-accident
