Preventing Falls in the Home

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Falls, exercise, and participation in sports cause most sprains and strains. Although these injuries cannot always be avoided, there are safety tips you can use to prevent them:

• Keep walkways, hallways, and doorways well lit.
• Keep nightlights in bedrooms for children and the elderly.
• Put handrails on both sides of stairways.
• Use rubber mats in showers and bathtubs.
• Keep floors clear of objects that could cause someone to trip over them.
• Use nonskid wax on floors.
• Use rug glue for throw rugs and loose carpets.
• Use a stepstool (not a chair) to reach objects out of reach.
• Be sure you can see where you are walking when carrying something in your arms.
• Be aware that medications, alcohol, and illness can cause a loss of balance.
• Use proper technique when lifting. (Use your legs and save your back.)
• Make sure porches and steps are lighted at night.
• Keep sidewalks and porches clear of ice in winter.
• Be careful when using a ladder. Avoid standing on the top three steps.