SLIP AND FALL
ACCIDENT

The elderly are particularly vulnerable to injury caused by slip-and-fall accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the top cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among the elderly (CDC). Around half to three-quarters of nursing home patients experience a fall yearly. Fall prevention begins with education. Therefore seniors and their caregivers must understand the most prevalent risk factors and solutions to avoid falls. As a result of a fall, many people suffer from the following common injuries.

• Broken Bone – When a bone is subjected to force beyond what it can tolerate, it breaks. The probability of breaking a bone after a fall increases with age. Hip, wrist, and ankle fractures are prevalent in slip-and-fall incidents.
  
  
• Soft Tissue Injuries – Injuries to the body’s soft tissues are often not immediately apparent, and it may be many days or weeks after a fall before the full extent of the injury becomes apparent. Sprains of the ankle and wrist, torn tendons, and ligaments are all examples of soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries may be excruciating if they are not addressed, and they can also leave you more prone to other injuries.
  
  
• Traumatic Brain Injuries – also known as TBI, are sustained when a person suffers a fall and strikes their head on the floor or another surface. Minor concussions, knocks, and bruises are all examples of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), while more severe injuries include skull fractures, hematomas, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
  
  
• Hip Fracture – An older person who suffers a hip fracture will likely need surgery, an inpatient stay of around a week, and prolonged rehabilitation in a nursing facility.
  
  
• Ankle or Wrist Sprains – can occur if you take an unnatural or uneven stride, a typical result of slip-and-fall accidents. People frequently shield themselves from impact by extending their arms as a secondary measure. If the ligaments in your wrist or ankles rip after a fall, you will likely acquire a sprain or a strain.
  
  
• Cuts and Abrasions – Slip and falls that create cuts and abrasions can appear rather serious, although the injuries are frequently less extensive than other forms of slip and fall. Abrasions to the legs and arms, as well as the head and hips, are common.
  
  
• Back and Spinal Cord Injuries – The stress on the body in a slip-and-fall accident can fracture vertebrae or produce slipped or herniated discs, which cause substantial pain and limited movement.
  
  
• Shoulder or Neck Injury – Shoulder and neck injuries arise by landing on your shoulder or neck after a fall. They can also result from overexertion when trying to catch yourself during the fall. Muscle sprains, spinal cord damage, and paralysis are some of the possible outcomes of a neck injury.
  
  
• Knee Injuries – Knee damage can come from a slip and if you twist as you fall. In addition to ligament tears, you may potentially dislocate your patella, and you may need knee repair now or in the future.