Loose floor coverings and changes in the type of flooring from one room to the next can be a trip hazard and make walking or balance more difficult.
Preventing fall removing harzards from the floor.
According to the national safety council nsc approximately 25 000 slip trip and fall injuries occur daily in the unites states.
Spilled liquid on a floor that may cause slips.
Fall prevention may not seem like a lively topic but it s important.
Indoor control measures can help reduce the incidence of slips and falls.
Look for trip hazards on the floor and remove them.
Clean up spills immediately.
The carpet and rug institute recommends that a minimum of 12 to 15 feet of mat coverage be provided to remove 90 of tracked in soil.
Floor mats of adequate length and width must be properly placed to reduce slip and fall hazards without becoming hazards themselves.
High rates of slip trip and fall stf injuries.
Sore feet or unsafe shoes.
People with a visual impairment parkinson s disease or dementia are more at risk of falls because of uneven.
Many factors contribute to falls including improper floor cleaning.
A short term illness such as the flu or another infection or recovering from surgery can also temporarily increase your risk of falling.
As you get older physical changes and health conditions and sometimes the medications used to treat those conditions make falls more likely.
Still fear of falling doesn t need to rule your life.
Use anti skid adhesive tape in troublesome areas.
These injuries are the top cause of preventable deaths among people aged 65 to 85 and over the nsc reports.
This document will summarize information on falls on the same level slips and trips.
Low calcium increases the risk of having a fracture if you do fall.
Trip hazards like rugs or floor mats uneven surfaces and poor lighting at home or outside.
How to prevent falls.
Later a toddler might tumble while trying to get to the cookie jar and an older child might slip while rocketing up hardwood stairs in socks.
Put away toys at the end of the day so all family members can go to the toilet at night without tripping over them.
When a baby learns to walk preventing falls requires constant supervision.
Use moisture absorbent mats with beveled edges in entrance areas.
Display wet floor signs as needed.
The national institute for occupational safety and health niosh recommends measures to ensure a safe workplace and prevent injuries.
Still there s plenty you can do to promote fall safety and minimize injuries when falls happen.
Pick up rugs and electrical cords.
Make sure they have backing material that will not slide on the floor.
Falls from an elevation such as falls from ladders roofs down stairs or from jumping to a lower level etc is discussed in the safety belts harnesses and lanyards document since each type of fall requires different features in a fall prevention program.