Is this the most dangerous thing you do every day?
Dear Reader,
If you’ve ever taken a tumble, you know that it can occur in a split second. First, you’re walking along… and then, before you know it, you’re on the ground!
But if you’re going up or down stairs when that misstep happens, the results can be a lot more serious.
You may think your days of “living dangerously” are far behind you. But navigating a staircase is one of the riskiest things you can do!
And while you might not be old or feeble, it turns out that people of all ages injure themselves on stairs… to the tune of over a million Americans being rushed to the hospital every year.
By taking some precautionary “steps,” however, you can lower you risk of ending up in the ER with a broken bone, head injury, or worse.
In fact, according to a new study, the older you are, the more likely it is that you’ll end up being admitted to the hospital after taking a tumble, instead of just being treated for some bumps and bruises and released.
Researchers led by Dr. Gary Smith of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, have crunched 23 years’ worth of data on Americans who went to the hospital as a result of stairway stumbles and found that the most serious injuries were suffered by seniors.
But the really scary part is that in the majority of cases, it’s not clear why they fell — and fell so badly they had to be rushed to the hospital.
This study found that around 60 percent of stairway accidents had no known cause. For the rest, it was the unpredictable and seemingly unavoidable slipping, tripping, or taking a misstep.
Since the researchers found that staircase accidents are occurring at the breakneck speed of around two a minute, it could happen to any of us!
So, you need to be aware of this risk every time you approach a flight of stairs — both at home and away — and take some simple precautions, such as:
- Watching your step, literally!: While most folks in the study didn’t know why they fell, one thing stood out as a significant danger — carrying things down the stairs that obstruct your vision. When carrying a basket of laundry (or anything else) down the steps, be sure you have a clear view of where you’re going.
- Looking before you leap: Believe it or not, the worst injuries can come from low stairways — those with just a few steps. In many cases, people don’t notice there are stairs there at all and take what’s called an “air step” fall. So, when you’re out — say, in a hotel or restaurant — try to be more aware of your surroundings before you forge ahead.
- Keeping the lights on: Poor lighting is said to be a big reason for stairway falls, and that’s even in very familiar surroundings. Make sure your hallways and stairways are well lit, so you can clearly see where you’re going.
- Not falling over Fido: If you have pets, encourage them not to sit on steps or at the top of a landing. Having two pups, I can tell you that’s easier said than done, but nothing will send you flying faster than an unexpected dog or cat on the stairs.
- Throwing the rugs somewhere else: If you have laminate or hardwood floors, don’t place any throw rugs at the top or bottom of a stairway. That’s a written invitation to take a fall — or to literally throw yourself down the stairs.
- Seeing clearly: If you only wear reading glasses, take them off before you go up or down the stairs. They can easily distort your perception and have you taking some “air steps”… right to the door of the nearest ER!
And of course, hold onto the handrail! It’s there for a reason, and you should take advantage of it — even if you don’t think you need to. It could make the difference between simply losing your footing and losing your independence.
“Injuries on stairs occur in all age groups and abilities” Carolyn Crist, October 9, 2017, Reuters, reuters.com
