News you can use
On Saturday, January 26, I was painting the ceiling in my husband's study (aka the cozy bear's den). I was standing on a 2-step steps tool, admiring my work. I stepped back. I missed the step. I landed (all of my weight) on my posterior on a flagstone floor. My 6 year-old daughter was with me and said, "Mom, please stop screaming. Use your yoga breath."I managed to make it through the rest of the day. The next morning, I woke up and my hand puffed up like a ballon. I went to the clinic, and the health care professional took x-rays. They determined that I sprained my wrist and ankle, and bruised my tailbone. Needless to say ... this has not been ideal!
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| I fell from a step stool just like this one. |
Where does this fit on the issue teams?
Safety, of course! According to the University of North Carolina (UNC) Injury Prevention Research Center 2010 Annual report, most injuries occur in a home setting. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that each yea, 2 million adults aged 65+ are treated in emergency rooms for falls (http://www.cdc.gov/features/olderamericans/).Risk reduction is key. A relatively quick home safety check can help eliminate hazards. In my case, I should have been more careful. In the meantime ... We are working on a falls risk reduction pilot project ... stay tuned for more info!
