A nor’easter the day before Halloween caught many of us scrambling to find candles, matches, batteries and flashlights. In the dark is a place those over 60 do not want to be – not only is it cold and gloomy, it’s dangerous. You could fall, and falling is the No. 1 fear for many of us.
Just lighting our walkway when the electricity is off proves to be a challenge – we surely don’t want dangerous candles left unattended. One of my friends has offered the following:
“Here’s a tip if the power goes out. For those who have solar lights, (the kind that light up your paths in summer.) Bring them inside if storms are predicted. Stand them upside down, stakes pointing up. During [the tropical storm] Irene, I had them in the bathroom, living room, kitchen and bedroom and could see to walk about just fine. They stay lit all night and there are no flames as in candles or oil lamps which were used in the old days. CMP does a great job of keeping out lights on. I know, as my husband worked for them 36 years. But sometimes the good old sun can help. The sun powers up the lights, but of course if there are cloudy days they may not work.”
The risk of falling increases with age and many of us have a friend or relative who has fallen, perhaps while walking or during a dizzy spell when standing up from a chair. More than one third of people 65 or older falls every year.
According to the National Institute of Health, more than 1.6 million older U.S. adults go to emergency departments for fall-related injuries each year.
Among older adults, falls are the No. 1 cause of fractures, hospital admissions for trauma, loss of independence, and injury deaths. Fractures caused by falls can lead to hospital stays and disability. Most often, fall-related fractures are in the person’s hip, pelvis, spine, arm, hand, or ankle.
Before the next storm and possible loss of power, take a few minutes and with a friend, do what you can to fall-proof your home. Remember more than half of all falls happen at home and many can be prevented.
Remove anything that could cause you to trip or slip while walking. Tripping on clutter, small furniture, pet bowls, electrical or phone cords, or other things can cause you to fall. Slipping on rugs or slick floors can also cause falls.
Arrange furniture to give you plenty of room to walk freely. Also remove items from stairs, hallways, and pathways.
Be sure that carpets are secured to the floor and stairs. Remove throw rugs, use non-slip rugs, or attach rugs to the floor with double-sided tape. Put non-slip strips on floors and steps. Buy a new rubber mat for the floor of your tub or shower.
At home and elsewhere, try to avoid wet floors and clean up spills right away. Use only non-skid wax on waxed floors at home. Be careful when walking outdoors, and avoid going out alone on ice or snow. A simple slip on a slick sidewalk, a curb, or icy stairs could result in a serious injury.
A couple of winters ago, one of my brothers took some asphalt shingles, fit them to my outside steps and nailed them to the tread. They are non-slip and since they’re black, the precipitation melts quicker. You don’t want to fall.
You might love to see your floors shiny, waxed and bright, but I would not take a chance walking on them! To prevent a slip and fall, be sure to put down some skid-proof runners or rugs in your “walking path” – and do it soon.
Pick up some battery powered lights and a radio that also uses batteries. Make sure you know the location of your glasses, matches, candles, your medications and other necessities. Keep some drinking water in the refrigerator.
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