Recognizing Fall Hazards in the Home Recognizing Fall Hazards in the Home and Communityand Community

• Recognize the benefits of a positive attitude Recognize the benefits of a positive attitude towards fall preventiontowards fall prevention

• Discuss common fall hazards in the homeDiscuss common fall hazards in the home• Use a personal action planner for one Use a personal action planner for one

environmental hazardenvironmental hazard

Common hazards

Clutter

Sharp

furniture Loose electrical cords

Poor lighting Raised doorway

Slippery surfaces

Stairs without handrails

Loose throw rugs

Other reminders to prevent falls

Don’t carry too much

Store frequently used items lower in pantry. Decrease clutter.

No socks on a slippery floor

Wear sensible shoes

Bathroom TipsInstall grab bars Use a shower

chair

Use weaker leg to get into tub

• Discuss hazards in your homeDiscuss hazards in your home• Brainstorm common hazards and how to Brainstorm common hazards and how to

eliminate themeliminate them• Lets look at some “messy rooms”: Identify the Lets look at some “messy rooms”: Identify the

common hazards in these rooms.common hazards in these rooms.

• Take a break!Take a break!• Roam the halls with a friend or two and see Roam the halls with a friend or two and see

how your building rateshow your building rates• Use this Use this Template

How safe is your building?

• Record hazards in your residenceRecord hazards in your residence• Determine how possible it is to change Determine how possible it is to change

hazards to make it saferhazards to make it safer• Review own hazards & hazards of the messy Review own hazards & hazards of the messy

roomsrooms• Determine how possible it is to change home Determine how possible it is to change home

hazardshazards

• Goal: Eliminate environmental fall hazardGoal: Eliminate environmental fall hazard• Action:Action:• Materials/physical assistance neededMaterials/physical assistance needed• Possible problemsPossible problems• Solutions: Prioritize answers to problemsSolutions: Prioritize answers to problems• Use this Use this Template

• 11stst response: Hand out front: response: Hand out front:• Let arm take weight…protects the head!Let arm take weight…protects the head!• After fall, check how you feel…slowly moveAfter fall, check how you feel…slowly move• Stay put if you have problems (pain, sweating, Stay put if you have problems (pain, sweating,

dizziness, nausea)dizziness, nausea)• Use Emergency Response or 9 1 1Use Emergency Response or 9 1 1

IF you do begin to fall…

• Roll to one side (a side that doesn’t hurt)Roll to one side (a side that doesn’t hurt)• Bend knees, up on all foursBend knees, up on all fours• Reach for stable object (table, chair, toilet) to Reach for stable object (table, chair, toilet) to

push up onpush up on

Photos courtesy of American Academy of Orthopedic SurgeonsPhotos courtesy of American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons

• Evaluate why you fellEvaluate why you fell• Tell?Tell?

– Family membersFamily members– DoctorDoctor

• Change ?Change ?– EnvironmentEnvironment– Personal behaviorPersonal behavior

• We learned how to access our surroundings We learned how to access our surroundings for fall hazardsfor fall hazards

• We learned how to develop a plan to improve We learned how to develop a plan to improve the safety of our environmentthe safety of our environment

• We learned how to get up from a fallWe learned how to get up from a fall• We learned what to do when we fallWe learned what to do when we fall