The National Safety Council has been raising awareness about summertime safety throughout the month of June in an effort to reduce the number of unintentional injuries sustained at work and at home. We first posted about the frequency of unintentional injuries leading to hospital visits on our South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog earlier this month. Slip and fall injuries are the most common avoidable injury and can happen at home, local establishments and at work.
West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers want to remind residents that if you are victim of a fall that occurred at work, in a nursing home, or at a place of business, you should contact an experienced accident attorney. Medical costs and personal suffering will become a burden, and you have a right to be compensated.
The week of June 19-25 is aimed at preventing slips, trips and falls. The NSC estimates that 8.6 million visits to hospital emergency rooms each year are the result of a trip or fall accident.
Older adults are most at risk, and falls occurring in this age group can sometimes be severe enough to alter your personal freedom or independent lifestyle. Adults 65 and older are four times more likely to die in a fall than any other age group.
The NSC recommends these tips to prevent falls at home:
-Create a fall-proof environment in your home by keeping clutter to a minimum, especially on steps and walkways that you use frequently.
-Purchase skid-proof rugs to be placed in slippery areas.
-Keep staircases and hallways well-lit by turning on lights as you walk from room to room.
-Handrails are a must on stairways. It is also advised that bathrooms are equipped with handrails.
-Tuck away any phone cords, television cables or electrical cords so that they can’t be tripped on.
-Refrain from waxing floors routinely as it makes them more slippery. Clean up water or other liquid spills quickly.
-If you need to reach something up high, get a steady step ladder or stool with rails to help you reach and keep you steady.
-Prescribed medications often have side effects like weakness or dizziness, which can cause you to fall. Take accurate doses to reduce the risk of falling.
Children are also at a high risk for fall injuries. The NSC offers these additional safety tips for children:
-Use safety gates around stairs and entrance ways to keep small children contained.
-Keeps windows closed and locked around small children. Remove furniture or objects near windows that children can easily climb on to get to windows.
-Use slip resistant stickers or a rubber mat in the bathtub to reduce the risk of slipping on a slippery but hard surface that could cause severe injury.
-Never allow children to play unsupervised on balconies or fire escapes.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a fall accident in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Margate, Port St. Lucie or West Palm Beach, contact the injury lawyers at Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC for legal advice about your rights. Call for a free and confidential appointment at 1-800-561-7777.
Additional Resources:
Premise Liability Injuries a Holiday Danger in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, November 26, 2010
Fort Lauderdale Nursing Home Falls Often a Preventable Tragedy, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, February 18, 2011