Friday, October 08, 2010

Safety Tips for Senior Citizen

SAFETY TIPS FOR SENIOR CITIZEN

Falls are the leading cause of injury in people 65 and older.

Falls can happen anytime and anyplace to people of any age, but most falls by people age 65 and older occur in the home during every day activities. However, many falls can be prevented. Here are some prevention tips.

Stairs
• Provide enough light to clearly see steps.
• Keep stairs free of clutter.
• Cover stairs with tightly woven carpet or non slip treads.
• Install sturdy handrails on both sides of the stairway.

Bathrooms
• Keep a night-light on in the bathroom.
• Use bathroom rugs with nonskid backing.
• Install handrails in the bathtub and toilet areas.
• Place a rubber mat or nonskid strips on the bathtub/shower floor.
• Leave the bathroom door unlocked, so it can be opened from both sides

Kitchen
• Avoid climbing and reaching for high shelves.
• Use a stable step stool with handrails.
• Arrange storage at counter level.
• Clean up spills as soon as they happen and don't wax floors.

Living Area
• Arrange furniture to provide an open path-way between rooms.
• Remove low tables, footrests and other items from the pathway.
• Keep electrical and telephone cords out of the pathway.

Bedrooms
• Remove throw rugs, extension cords and other floor clutter.
• Install a bedroom night-light.
• Use a normal - height bed.
• Before leaving your bed, sit on the edge for a while to make sure you are not dizzy.

Footwear
• Wear low heeled or flat shoes with nonskid soles.
• Tie shoes, with a fairly snug fit are preferred and keep laces tied.
• Avoid shoes with thick, heavy soles.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FALL;
• Don't panic. Assess the situation and determine if you are hurt.
• Slide or crawl along the floor to the nearest couch or chair and try to get up.
• If you can't get up, call for help.

No comments:

Post a Comment