Rehab

Stair-related injuries continue to climb

Rehab Regs, August 18, 2005

Falls are the leading cause of accidental injuries and death in the home, reports a 2004 study from teh Home Safety Council. Clutter on the stairs is one of the biggest causes of these fall-related injuries, according to the Akron Beacon [OH] Journal. Potential ways to avoid a future accident are to teach children not to leave toys and other items on the steps, and don't use stairs as display space for decorations. Additionally, if you tend to put things on the steps that need to be taken upstairs, put a basket near the base fo the stairway to hold those items--but not on the stairs or in a spot where someone might trip over it, and make sure you have banisters on both sides of the stairwell, so walkers can more effectively brace themselves if they start to fall, reported the Beacon Journal.

Most Popular

Related Articles