10 Ways for Seniors to Protect Themselves from Falls

As a senior, it becomes more important than ever to think about falls. After working so hard in our younger years to retire comfortably we don’t want to end up with an injury. My wife works in a nursing home and rehabilitation facility. My wife has seen many falls that have changed peoples lives and, unfortunately, in most cases injuries only get worse.

Seniors are more susceptible to injury because of slowed reflexes, vision issues, medication side effects, and muscle weakness. Also, pride and stubbornness get in the way of changing things to make the senior’s life safer. Believe me, giving a bit to change your household is much better than waiting for someone to help you to the bathroom every time you need to go!

These are some of my suggestions that will not only assure you a better quality of life but will also help to avoid some possible falls.

1. Prevent falls by avoiding common dangers – The best way to stay safe is to keep an uncluttered home. Many items like small statues and lamp tables can be tripped over. To avoid these falls and bumps keep these items along outside walls. Also, keep them at least 2 feet from doorways.Keep steps clear indoors and out. Keep your yard, garage, and closets clear. Watch for sticks, rocks, and other debris that may be hidden in grass causing you to fall. Also, keep the grass mowed so it makes walking through the yard safer.
2. Bathroom dangers – The bathroom is a highly dangerous area. It’s almost designed to fall in. Almost all bathroom falls can cause permanent damage and we need to think ahead. Shower falls, wet floor slips, slipping off the toilet, scale, bumping your head on the sink, even that darn laundry basket can be dangerous.Some simple and great options are putting in shower and bath guards. Not only do they save you from falling in the shower but putting one on the wall closest to the toilet can also help you stay steady.

   Some other great safety options are to put a non-slip adhesive on the shower floor. This easy inexpensive fix can literally help save your life! Walk-in showers are a great option and one of the best risk preventatives in dealing with shower slips.

3. Mats and rugs cause falls – Mats and rugs cause many trips and falls. Area rugs look great but can easily get caught up on your feet, shoes, and slippers. If you do need to have an area rug choose a heavy one that is non-skid. The ends of the rug should be tapered so it cannot easily be tripped on. The best option is not to have the area rug.Welcome mats and mats you put in front of the sink can also cause trips. Using some simple double-sided tape to keep them in place will go a long way to keeping them from slipping and causing trips. Some specially made mats will actually hug the floor so it can’t be tripped on easily.
4. Sensible foot ware – Some footwear like open toed shoes or flip flops will catch just about anything possible. Sometimes it’s a combination of things that will cause people and specifically seniors to fall. Flip fops will easily catch on stairs with the slightest of dizziness. This is why we need to keep you barefoot in the home or with a closed shoe.
5. Using a cane – Using a cane or walking stick is like giving you a third leg. Not that you might need one but it can help you in times where you may have vertigo or get up to quickly causing dizziness. Canes may even be stylish so getting one that suits your style will even look great!
6. Medical side effects – Medications always have side effects and they don’t always affect us the same way. Most seniors are taking some sort of blood pressure medications. They often cause low blood pressure and dizziness. We don’t know when a spell will hit up and it could be while walking or mowing the lawn. Always being prepared and having 2 points of contact on something steady will keep you on your feet.
7. Never be alone – The best advice I have for you is not to be alone. Seniors should always have a family member or friend with them. I have many senior friends and they all have horror stories of trips and falls. Some of them have even been trapped overnight in the garage or basement. This is why it’s so important to have someone with you just incase you are stuck. It’s much better to call out to a real person for help than to wait till someone notices you missing. The next option will help if you don’t have someone to stay with you.
8. Have a cell phone or emergency alarm – All seniors that stay alone should have some sort of emergency system that calls easily alert help to any situation. If you cannot afford one of these systems then carry a cell phone with you at all times. Have to speed dials for every person or agency that you may need. If the need arises you should be able to quickly call for help.
9. Live on one floor – Having multiple floors in your home gives you multiple ways to get hurt. Slips and falls down the steps may not only hurt you but may end your life. Either move everything you need on these other floors to the main living floor or consider downsizing.
10. Don’t shovel snow – When the bad weather hits don’t be tempted to shovel the snow. Many heart attacks, strokes, falls, and broken hips happen while trying to make a path to the mailbox. It makes much more sense to either ask a neighbor or hire help to deal with the snow. If you can’t get help shoveling, invest in buying ice melt. It will cost you much less than the hospital will and will be less painful than a broken bone. Just go out more often to spread salt and do it in a safe manner.

As we get older we have to make changes that we really don’t want to, to stay safe. I know you like that rug or plant where it is but consider how different your life will be after a serious injury. Making some sensible changes in your home today will allow you to stay healthier longer while living in your home.

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How to Find a Lost Hiker

Having to find a lost friend or loved one would be a scary situation. Thousands of people get lost each year while enjoying the outdoors. While most of them are found within hours, some aren’t found at all. Your life depends on your knowledge and how easy people can find you if you need help.

If you think someone you know is lost follow these few steps first;

1. Try and contact them by cell phone or radio if you have them.
2. Go to the parking spot and look for clues.
3. If you are familiar with the area, stay on the path and call their name.

Most of these simple options can help you contact your missing friend or help your friend find you. Contacting the authorities, a couple hours after you think someone is lost, may just be jumping the gun. The last thing you want is to take resources away from authorities if you don’t have a real lost hiker.

Report a lost hiker

If you are sure your hiker is lost, by all means, call authorities and report a lost hiker. Call the authorities and give them all the information you have along with the planned hiking information. Hopefully, you have the plan available that the hiker had made before going on the adventure. This should list a topographical map with the drawn-out route, times of departure and arrival with expected rest areas, and times of rest at each stop. All of this will help rescuers to estimate where the lost hiker could be.

Authorities will contact all the organizations needed, such as rescue associations in the area and medical services, if needed. The rescue organization in the area will most likely organize separate groups to search areas dependent on the information provided by the person that contacted authorities. This is always the first step, and then as they search these starting points, they will fan out.

Signals

Not only are searchers looking for the hiker; they will be looking for key signals that may have been left by the hiker.

• Shoes and specifically the tracks of the hiker
• Signs that the hiker may have left the trail
• Why the hiker may have left the trail
• Broken branches and even bent over blades of grass
• Signs of injury like blood, drag marks, and gear left behind
• Trail signals like rock groupings or stick arrows
• The help signals of groups of 3
• Sounds that may be made by the lost person
• Smell of a campfire
• Sight of smoke

These are just a few of the common things good rescuers look for. It also depends greatly on the clues of the hiker and their experience.

What Can You Do?

While rescue authorities are on the search, it’s best to let them do their job. Getting other people lost while trying to help just takes away resources from the lost person. When the search crews are not searching, feel free to organize your own search party. With proper equipment, you may be able to help. Some of my suggestions are as follows.

• Megaphone to help lead the person to you
• Medical equipment
• Use your ears to hear the call for help
• GPS
• Maps both topographical and satellite maps
• Groups of people

Stay organized; having a lone wolf take-off into the woods is not a safe way to handle a search. Remember, the most important person of the situation is the lost person. Staying united in teams searching area by area is the fastest most thorough way to find them.

Search Dogs

Search dogs are an invaluable tool. A well-trained canine can track and smell things you won’t be able to notice. Rescue teams use these amazing animals to help look or go where we can’t. Many rescue operations have been successful because of man’s best friend!

Not only are the search dogs amazing. The dog handlers can read the dogs’ movements and barks just as if they were speaking the same language.

Aerial Search

Authorities will use helicopters and airplanes to search. This can be really difficult to find people this way unless they are in a clearing. Aerial searches are most productive at looking over river banks, lake edges and tree clearings. Some of the things they will be looking for are international calls for help like groups of 3 or 3 sounds (three shots from a firearm) and smoke or things that shine (signal mirror.)

Now search crews are also using drones. Once a toy, drones have quickly become an invaluable tool for search and rescue. Drones can get to places where other aircrafts can’t go. Drones cost less to operate, and that means more can be used in areas to speed up the search process.

Is the Lost Hiker Coherent?

Remember, you may not always be looking for a coherent person. They may be unable to call for help or signal. You could possibly be feet away from the lost person, and unless they signal, you may pass right by them.

Don’t leave anything to chance. Look on all sides of fallen trees, boulders, ledges and even bushes. A weak person could sleep through an army going by. They may have even used leaves and branches to protect them from the elements.

This information is meant to help you understand the process of finding a lost hiker. You can understand that you can assist in the effort to find your loved one. Working together with authorities will assure the best turnout in finding that lost hiker.

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