Las Vegas Fall Prevention Awareness Week takes place every year during the third full week of September. Organizations like the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence (FPCE) and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) promote the event to highlight how serious slip-and-fall injuries are and educate people on how to prevent them.
To help you and your family understand how grave fall accidents can be and learn what you can do to avoid them, the Las Vegas injury attorneys at Lerner and Rowe presents the following Fall Prevention Awareness Week safety guide.
Fall Accidents Are More Serious than You Think
When most people think about slipping and falling, they think of a minor accident due to a wet floor or a slight trip caused by a messy room. While those accidents certainly happen, many people are surprised by how often serious slip-and-fall accidents occur. For example:
- 25.8% of all workplace injuries are due to slips, trips, and falls, according to The National Safety Council (NSC)
- 2.2-million children under the age of 14 are hospitalized for fall-related injuries every year and 100 children die from those injuries, according to Stanford Children’s Health (SCH)
- Three-million senior citizens are treated for fall injuries, 800,000 are hospitalized, and 32,000 die annually, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Serious fall injuries can result in brain damage, spine damage, and wrongful death. Considering the potential for severe injuries, it’s crucial that you do everything possible to keep your family safe from slipping and falling.
Las Vegas Fall Prevention Safety Tips
Fortunately, the majority of slip-and-fall accidents are avoidable if you take the proper precautions. Following some simple safety tips can make the difference between a safe stroll and a debilitating injury. Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys recommends the following:
Fall Prevention at Home
- Keep all power and A/V cables tucked away so nobody trips over them
- Maintain clear pathways, especially in heavily trafficked areas
- Have sufficient lighting on all pathways
- Use secure, non-skid mats or rugs in the bathroom and kitchen
- Inspect stair handrails to make sure that they’re stable
Fall Prevention for Children
- Do a safety check of the playground area and equipment before letting your kids play
- Look ahead for uneven surfaces and obstacles when walking with your children
- Hold your children’s hand while crossing intersections
- Check to see that your kids’ shoes are tied properly
Fall Prevention for Seniors
- Install handrails and support bars throughout the home
- Ask your doctor about medication that affects your balance, stability, or vision
- Have your eyes checked regularly
- Do low-impact exercises, like aquatics or tai-chi, to improve balance, coordination, and strength
- Inspect your cane or walker to make sure that they’re stable
While these tips seem simple and straightforward, many people forget about them. This can be a tremendous mistake. Our team encourages you to use Las Vegas Fall Prevention Awareness Week to examine your safety practices and reinforce what you already know.
Contact a Las Vegas Slip-and-Fall Accidents Lawyer
Unfortunately, some slip-and-fall accidents can happen no matter how cautious you’ve been. Some fall injuries are caused by negligence and dangerous products. In those cases, the lawyers at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys can help you. Let our compassionate and experienced attorneys fight to win you maximum compensation, so that you can focus on your health and recovery.
Our team is available 24/7 to assist you. You can reach our legal team by phone at 702-877-1500 and online via secure contact form or LiveChat. Don’t let insurance companies rob you of fair compensation. Contact Lerner and Rowe today.