Seven steps to preventing falls | Guest column by Orcas firefighter Patrick Shepler

Your Orcas Fire & Rescue EMTs study from a primary textbook authored by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The AAOS has a vested interest in fall prevention, and so do we at Orcas Island Fire and Rescue. Our medical director, Dr. Michael Sullivan, often says, “If it’s predictable, it’s preventable.” Nowhere is this more true that with falls. Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” According to the US Center for Disease Control, falls are the leading cause of death in adults ages 65 and older. More than 90 percent of hip fractures are caused by falls.

December 27, 2011 4:09 pm

by Patrick Shepler

Division Chief, Orcas Island Fire Rescue

Your Orcas Fire & Rescue EMTs study from a primary textbook authored by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The AAOS has a vested interest in fall prevention, and so do we at Orcas Island Fire and Rescue.

Our medical director, Dr. Michael Sullivan, often says, “If it’s predictable, it’s preventable.” Nowhere is this more true that with falls.   Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

According to the US Center for Disease Control, falls are the leading cause of death in adults ages 65 and older. More than 90 percent of hip fractures are caused by falls.

It is no surprise that fall risk for people of all ages increases when we have freezing weather. So please take extra caution. I will never forget a structure fire in Deer Harbor, working on a steep hill in 17-degree temperatures all night. We kept falling and falling on that rocky, steep and icy driveway.

Here are some prevention tips from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and Orcas Island Fire and Rescue:

1. Begin a safe exercise program: walking, stretching, or Tai Chi to build bone and muscle strength and improve balance and coordination.

2. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider to review your medications to see if they may cause drowsiness or dizziness.

3. Have your vision checked by an eye doctor at least once a year.

4. Make your home safe by removing items from main walkways, using non-slip mats or grab bars in the bathroom, improving in-home lighting, and keeping items in easy-to-reach cabinets.

5. Wear shoes or slippers that provide traction and support. Train pets, and move deliberately around pets to avoid tripping over them.

6. Keep emergency numbers near the phone.  If you rely on a cell phone in San Juan County, (360) 378-4151 is the surest way to get to our 911 center at the Sheriff’s Department.  Wear an alarm device or carry a phone with you at all times.

7. Arrange for a friend or family member to check in with you daily.

Orcas Island Fire and Rescue is dedicated to making our community safer by implementing Dr. Sullivan’s fall prevention program.  If you are interested in a free home safety assessment, just call us at 376-2331.  We will take your request, and then call you back to arrange a mutually convenient time to visit you in the home to provide safety recommendations.

For more information on falls and fall prevention visit www.orthoinfo.org/falls.