The Charbonneau Villager Newspaper 2020_April issue_Villager newspaper | Page 19

THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER 19
April 2020
TVF&R
By CHRISTINA LENT
Take action to
prevent fall injuries
A
s people grow older, the
consequences of a fall
grow more serious. Unin-
tentional falls are the
leading cause of injury deaths for
adults ages 65 and older, according
to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. They are the most
common cause of traumatic brain
injuries and account for more than
95% of hip fractures. In addition,
fractures from falls are a leading
cause of disability and often result
in entering a nursing home. Tuala-
tin Valley Fire & Rescue crews re-
sponded to 6,274 reports of falls
within the district’s service area in
2019. “Ground-level falls are one of
PMG FILE PHOTO
TVF&R says unintentional falls are the leading
cause of injury deaths for the elderly.
the most concerning type of medi-
cal calls our firefighter paramedics
respond to because we know many
of our elders struggle to recover
from them,” said Cassandra Ulven
with TVF&R. “Most falls happen in
the home and can be avoided. Fac-
tors such as poor lighting, narrow
stairs, and slippery surfaces can
increase the chances of a fall. In
addition, problems with glare,
depth perception, tiredness, or diz-
ziness from prescription medica-
tions contribute to falls.”
Research conducted by Yale Uni-
versity showed that older adults are
also most at risk of falling when they
fail to use handrails on stairs, reach
for objects overhead, and climb on
chairs or ladders. TVF&R reminds
seniors and children of older adults
to take the following precautions to
help prevent a fall injury:
Q Take Care of Yourself: Get regu-
lar medical checkups and talk to
your doctor to ensure appropriate
levels and types of medication. Have
your vision checked and replace eye-
glasses as needed. Have your health-
care provider also check your feet to
ensure you can walk comfortably.
Exercise regularly to improve your
balance and strength, and eat nutri-
tious meals to fuel your body.
Q Remove Existing Hazards: Fas-
ten throw rugs to the floor with dou-
ble-backed tape to keep them from
slipping or remove them all together.
Keep cords out of pathways, and
clean up spills as soon as they hap-
pen. Also, arrange furniture to mini-
mize obstructions, and clear clutter
from your living areas. Fix loose or
uneven steps. Make sure carpet is
firmly attached to every step, or re-
move the carpet and attach non-slip
rubber treads to the stairs. In the
kitchen, keep items you use often in
cabinets you can reach easily with-
out using a step stool.
Q Add Protection: Wear well-fit-
ting shoes with good support and
non-skid soles. Turn on lights when
walking through dark rooms or hall-
ways. Use nightlights in all rooms.
Install grab bars in the bathtub,
shower and toilet areas, and add
handrails on stairwells. Place phones
in multiple rooms or keep a cell-
phone with you in case you need to
call for emergency assistance. For
more life safety information, visit
www.tvfr.com.
Friday Fireside
LIVE
Rebecca
Hardiman Duo
More than
40 years of
Legal Experience
you can trust
Estate Planning ~ Accident & Injuries
Family Law ~ Wills, Probate & Trusts
Business Transactions
Acquisitions & Accession
Sales & Transfers
You are our #1 Priority!
We are happy to meet with you
in your home, the Charbonneau
member lounge or in our Lake
Oswego office.
Jazz and Classic Favorites 
John Moore
Principal Attorney
Live-Stream
Call for an
appointment today!
Every Friday 7-8 pm 
“Tip-Tickets”
of any amount 
4248 Galewood St., Lake Oswego
503-675-4300
www.MooreLawGroupPC.com
For tickets go to
www.rebeccahardiman.com/livestream