September 17, 2019

Tips for Falling Down More Safely

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We all fall down. It's part of being human. When we’re young, we brush it off. But as we age, falling down becomes a serious hazard. "Falling safely" may seem like an oxymoron, but fortunately there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of serious injury when falling.

Read on for a few tips on how to land more safely and how to help prevent falling in the first place.

1. Remove fall hazards.

When we’re younger, we don’t think of our homes as hospital-visit hazards. But as we age, it’s important to lay out our living spaces in ways that are easy to maneuver and help ourselves and our loved ones avoid a fall. To help reduce the risk of falling, consider the following steps:

Remove mats and area rugs, or secure with non-slip material
Repair loose tiles or bricks
Eliminate clutter from walkways, such as garden hoses, toys, stray shoes, etc.
Move low furniture out of walkways
Wear sensible, comfortable footwear

2. Look around you.

There’s no avoiding it — as we age, our eyesight just isn’t what it used to be. That means we’re more prone to tripping on unseen objects, cracks or rugs. This is especially true at nighttime or in unfamiliar places.

In an effort to avoid falls, always make sure that your prescription lenses are up to date. Try to be extra mindful of your feet and walkways, especially in new places. And install some nightlights around the house so you don’t trip over Fluffy in the middle of the night.

3. Bend your knees and elbows.

There’s no way to completely avoid falling, so it’s important to know how to fall when you do.

When you start to lose your balance, your instinct might be to extend your arms and try to catch yourself. But this can easily lead to a broken hand or wrist. It’s so common, in fact, that doctors have a name for it: FOOSH, or “fall on outstretched hand.”

So when you start to fall, don’t freeze up with your hands in front of you. Try to keep your elbows and knees bent. If you must fall with your hands in front of you, make sure to absorb the impact with your entire palm and forearm — not just your hands — which may reduce your risk of a broken bone.

4. Land on muscle.

If you’re not using your hands to catch yourself, what should you use to break your fall? It may sound counterintuitive, but try to fall on your muscles.

Landing on your buttocks, back or thighs may decrease your likelihood of breaking a bone. Not only do “meaty” parts of the body have fewer bones, they also have more area to absorb the impact of a tumble.

5. Protect your head.

One of the most crucial parts of falling safely is making sure your head doesn’t hit the ground.

If you fall backward, round your back and tuck your chin in an effort to reduce the risk of your head bouncing against the ground. If you fall forward, turn your face to the side.

6. Go with the fall.

Once again, this tip goes against all of your instincts: When you start to fall, relax.

Refer back to tip one. Oftentimes, it may be bracing yourself that leads to broken bones. When you feel yourself losing balance, relaxing your muscles and allowing yourself to fall may reduce your risk of injury.

Find out what questions to ask your doctor after a fall.

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