November is Falls Prevention Month, and Alberta Blue Cross has partnered with the Alberta Injury Prevention Centre to encourage Albertans to take steps to prevent fall-related injuries as part of the annual Finding Balance campaign.
According to the Injury Prevention Centre, falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults.
"The older we get, the greater the risk of falling becomes," states a press release from the Injury Prevention Centre. "Our bodies naturally change with age, and these changes affect the way we feel and move¹."
Finding Balance campaign is an educational program and public awareness campaign to inform and empower older Albertans to stay independent and prevent falls. As a champion for well being for Albertans, Alberta Blue Cross has assumed an active role in promoting injury prevention by sponsoring the campaign. Support from Alberta Blue Cross helps raise the profile of preventing injuries as an important component of life-long health and wellness.
“With the arrival of winter, the streets, sidewalks and steps we use daily become ice-coated obstacle courses,” says Brian Geislinger, senior vice-president of Corporate Relations and Community Engagement with Alberta Blue Cross. “With this in mind, we encourage everyone—particularly older adults—to take precautions to prevent falls and stay safe.”
"Falls are something many of us experience in our lives and can have a significant impact on the lifestyle and independence of an older adult,” adds Kathy Belton, director of the Injury Prevention Centre. “It's important to bring attention and awareness to falls prevention to empower older adults to stay independent and prevent falls."
Every year, one in three older Albertans will fall but there are preventative things everyone can do. Adapting walking on icy, snow-covered surfaces can help prevent a fall. Follow these tips from the Injury Prevention Centre:
- Take time and avoid rushing.
- Wear shoes or boots with a wide, flat heel.
- Choose footwear with soles that stay flexible in the cold.
- Make sure footwear has the proper amount of grip - not too much and not too little.
- Wear ice grips over your shoes or boots to get better grip. Remove ice grips when indoors because they can be slippery.
- If using a cane, put a retractable ice pick on the end of it.
- Carry a small bag or container of sand to sprinkle on unavoidable icy spots.
- Keep hands free for gripping handrails or supports.
- Walk like a penguin—bend slightly and walk flat-footed with feet pointed out slightly like a penguin. Take shorter, shuffle-like steps, keep arms at sides (not in pockets) and go S-L-O-W-L-Y.
The Injury Prevention Centre has supported organizations, communities and individuals to take actions to reduce their risk of injury for over 20 years in Alberta.
