Don't Fall Into Fall

In case you haven’t noticed, the days are getting shorter and the temperatures are dropping. You might not have considered this, but fall brings more than cooler temperatures. We actually see an increase in falls in the fall, especially among older adults.According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and account for the majority of emergency room visits for older adults. In fact, the NCOA designated the first day of fall each year as Falls Prevention Awareness Day. An older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall every 11 seconds. And every 19 minutes an older adult dies from a fall.But falls this time of year are not limited to older adults. More than 75 percent of falls, among all age groups, happen in or around the house.In addition to temperatures dropping, what else occurs in the fall? Trees shed their leaves, which mean you have fallen leaves in the gutters of your house. More than 150,000 people visit emergency rooms each year after a ladder fall. If you must scale a ladder to clean the gutters, make sure the ladder is on steady ground, that the rungs are not wet from dew or rain and that you are wearing shoes with a reliable tread.Those pesky leaves can also cause falls, especially when they are wet from a morning dew or frost, or from a recent rainfall. Try to keep leaves away from walking surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways. Of course, when walking along streets or city walkways, you can’t be sure they will be clear of wet leaves, so make sure your shoes have good tread on them.Cooler temperatures in the fall also make it more enjoyable to do yard work. Make sure you wear sturdy shoes with a reliable tread, and wait until the yard is dry before you head out to do your work. Wet grass is as much a hazard as wet leaves.