After small children, the group most at risk is older people. If you’re older, or you live with an older family member, there are some special concerns you need to be aware of. One of the most common and serious causes of injuries to seniors is falling. Because of their age and physical condition, what might cause a teenager only a bruise can lead to a long hospital stay or even death for a senior citizen. If possible, seniors should have a bedroom on the ground level of the house, to minimize their stair climbing, which is where many falls take place. If they do use the stairs at all, make sure all banisters are strong, and tightly secured to the wall. You should keep all walkways and stairs clear of toys, clothes, etc., to reduce the chances of tripping. And because our eyes get worse with age, and so do night time bathroom visits, you’ll want to make sure that there’s a night light in the hallways and bathrooms they may be using at night. Porches and outdoor walkways and landings should be very well lit at night for the same reasons. One of the places older folks are more likely to fall is the bathroom, so you’ll want to install a non skid rubber mat and a sturdy hand rail in the bathtub and shower. It’s also a good idea, if you have any rugs in the house, to buy non slip mats to put another them. Clean up all spills in the house immediately, and make sure any wet areas are well blocked until they’re dry. Finally, older people tend to take more medications than the younger population. If you have an older person in your family who’s on medication, make sure that they’re following proper dosages and that they’re not getting them mixed up. Accidental prescription drug overdoses are far more common among senior citizens than most people realize.
© Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved | www.SafetyResource.org