Preventing slips and falls in the winter

A general and vascular surgeon with Aurora BayCare recently joined the Wisconsin Tonight show to discuss the dangers of slipping and falling during winter months. Dr. Michael Mackowski also offered tips to avoid and prevent falls. According to an article posted by NBC-26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one out of […]

A general and vascular surgeon with Aurora BayCare recently joined the Wisconsin Tonight show to discuss the dangers of slipping and falling during winter months. Dr. Michael Mackowski also offered tips to avoid and prevent falls.

According to an article posted by NBC-26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one out of every three adults falls each year. About 2.5 million of non-fatal falls were treated in emergency departments in 2013, the latest data available on the CDC website. Of those falls in 2013, 734,000 people were admitted to the hospital, 25,500 elderly people died from unintentional falls, and more than 250,000 hip fractures were reported with 95 percent of them due to falls.

“Many of these instances are preventable, hence, the need to remind people of the dangers of slipping and falling and ways to minimize the likelihood of experiencing a serious incident related to a slip and fall,” the article reads. “Inattentiveness, tripping over clutter, ice on the walkway … there are many reasons people slip and fall.”

According to the CDC, in 2005, more than 15,000 people over the age of 65 died as a result of a fall. Falls are also the second-leading cause of brain injury in the United States. For people aged 65-84 years-old, falls are the second-leading cause of injury-related death; for those aged 85 years or older, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death.

The majority of falls are caused by a combination of risk factors. The more risk factors a person has, the greater their chances of falling, according to the article.

Falls can have significantly more severe results, including, in extreme cases, death.

Severe results include:

Mackowski offered some tips for avoiding slips and falls indoors such as removing clutter, electrical cords or other items that could cause someone to trip, making sure there’s ample walking space, cleaning-up any spills and using non-skid mats in the bath and shower.

Outside, Mackowski suggests making sure walkways and outdoor areas are well lit, avoid walking on ice if possible, wear shoes that have good traction, don’t talk on the phone or text when walking on ice or snowy areas and always pay attention to where you are going.