Hills District Independent August 2020 #62 August 2020 | Page 5

LOCAL LIFE
Men over 50: think before getting out the ladder
by Kerrie Davies
As we age, we are usually the last to
realise that our bodies aren’t as agile as
they once were and our balance is not
what it used to be.
A quick decision made to save time,
expense or due to an over-estimate of
one’s balance can have devastating
consequences that can impact for a
lifetime.
Men aged 50-plus are putting their
quality of life on the line by not assessing
the risks before doing home improvement
projects, according to new research from
Westmead Hospital and UNSW Sydney.
Westmead Hospital trauma director,
Associate Professor Jeremy Hsu said his
department regularly treats people with
serious injuries from falls at home, and
staff noticed many were men in their 50s
and 60s who had fallen from ladders.
“We know a lot about the frequency of
falls and how serious they are but what we
wanted to know is why they are occurring
and how we can prevent them,” A/Prof
Hsu said. “What makes this study unique
is it examines the why, not just the what
and how.”
That question led nurse educator
Katherine Schaffarcyzk examined data
from 86 incidents at Westmead Hospital’s
emergency department, involving men
aged 50-plus suffering a non-occupational
fall at home.
Nearly half of these hospitalisations
were the result of a ladder slipping
or collapsing when men were doing
general home maintenance, gardening
and cleaning. Two-thirds of the patients
received multiple injuries and one-quarter
suffered severe trauma.
Mrs Schaffarcyzk conducted in-depth
follow up interviews with 12 men and
seven spouses to get more information
about the cause and impact of the
incidents.
The main factors leading to the fall
included complacency, lack of assessment
of risk factors such as footwear, the
surface the ladder was placed on, ensuring
someone was home, and recognising their
physical limitations.
Many of those interviewed reported
life-changing impacts for themselves and
their families, even from minor trauma
such as a simple fracture.
Paul Molloy came close to death in
2013 when he fell from the top rung of a
ladder while installing a blind at home
alone, suffering broken ribs, a punctured
lung and fractured shoulder.
Aged 71 at the time, he was unable to
cry out for help and endured an agonising
10-minute crawl into his home to call
triple-zero.
“I was put into an induced coma at
Westmead Hospital and spent three days
in intensive care. Dr Hsu said if I hit my
head I probably would’ve died,” Paul said.
“The recovery process was terrible. I
was in a lot of pain and traumatised by the
memory of being alone, thinking that was
the end for me. I’m still squeamish reliving
it today.
“I’ve told many friends and family
what I’ve gone through and they’re
extra careful now. Many people don’t
necessarily take care
or think anything
could happen to
them.”
Mrs Schaffarcyzk
said the research
highlighted the need
for community injury
prevention campaigns
about the dangers of
falls from ladders from
seemingly low-risk
everyday activities.
“Many men
overestimate their
abilities, particularly
as they get older and
don’t want to stop
doing the things
they’ve always done,”
she said.
“But the sad reality is these incidents
can lead to serious injuries that have longlasting
impacts on the lives of men and
their families.”
Mrs Schaffarcyzk said the research
identified several preventative measures
to collaboratively explore, including safety
equipment such as gutter hooks to be
included with the sale of all ladders.
Here are some tips for avoiding a fall:
• Stop to assess the risks before
doing any home maintenance,
gardening and cleaning
• Never climb a ladder or do other
risky behaviour while home alone
• Wear proper safety equipment
including non-slip shoes and wellfitting
clothing
• Upgrade your equipment,
especially ladders, and always
follow the manufacturer’s advice
The main factors leading to falls
include complacency, lack of assessment
of risk factors such as footwear, the
surface the ladder was placed on, ensuring
someone was home, and recognising their
physical limitations.
“But the sad reality is these incidents
can lead to serious injuries that have longlasting
impacts on the lives of men and
their families.”
Mrs Schaffarcyzk said the research
identified several preventative measures
to collaboratively explore, including safety
equipment such as gutter hooks to be
included with the sale of all ladders.
EST. 1990
FUNCTION CENTRE
Festa Italiana
Spotlight on Veneto
$65 Set Menu
Antipasti + 3 Courses
+ Wines
Thursday 27 August
FROM 12PM
BOOK ONLINE : www.allegrofunctioncentre.com.au
CALL 9654 1443 FOR DETAILS
1 Porters Road, Kenthurst
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT www.hdinews.com.au ISSUE 62 // AUGUST 2020 5