|
< Back
Fall Safety Checklist
Use the following checklist to help minimize the risk of falling in your home:
- Remove throw rugs and tack carpet down
where loose.
- Have a lamp or light switch that you can
easily reach without getting out of bed.
Have a flashlight handy.
- Install a telephone near the bed and where
the person usually sits.
- Use night-lights in the bedroom, bathroom
and hallways.
- Place a chair near the bed to assist the
person to pull up should he/she fall.
- Shorten or remove telephone cords or
electric cords on floors.
- Have light switches at both ends of stairs
and halls. Install handrails on both sides
of stairs.
- Add grab bars in shower, tub and toilet
areas.
- Purchase a bath seat and install a hand-
held shower.
- Use nonslip adhesive strips in the shower
or tub.
- Purchase a step stool with high and sturdy
handrails.
- Use bath mats with suction cups.
- Use nonslip adhesive strips or a mat in
shower or tub.
- Turn on the lights when you go into the
house at night.
- Exchange low-watt light bulbs for bulbs
with higher wattage to increase bright-
ness in rooms.
- Reduce clutter throughout the house and
on stairs.
- Wear nonslip, low-heeled shoes or slip-
pers that fit snugly. Don t walk around
in stocking feet.
- Paint outside stairs with a mixture of
sand and paint for better traction. Keep
outdoor walkways clear and well
lighted.
- Paint the edges of outdoor steps that
are especially narrow or are higher or
lower than the rest.
- Watch your alcohol intake. More than
two drinks per day can cause unsteadi-
ness.
- Have your hearing and eyesight tested
regularly.
- Review medications with your doctor or
pharmacist. Some drugs, including
over-the-counter drugs, can make you
drowsy, dizzy and unsteady.
- If you feel dizzy or light-headed, sit
down or stay seated until your head
clears. Stand up slowly.
|
