|
|
 |
Falls are the most common cause of trauma in Kansas, according to the Northwest Regional Trauma Council. In 2006, 2,721 unintentional fall-related traumas were reported to the Kansas Trauma Registry. While unintentional fall-related traumas occur in all age groups, 60 percent of falls occur in patients 65 years old and older. In Goodland, an average of 92 patients over the past two years has sought emergency medical treatment for fall related injuries, according to emergency services at Goodland Regional Medical Center. In an effort to decrease incidence of falls and injuries associated with falls in older adults, the NWRTC recently awarded GRMC and four area hospitals the first round of older adult fall prevention mini-grants. The funds are provided to assist hospitals and other health care agencies to implement the Emergency Nurses Association’s “Stand Strong for Life” fall prevention curriculum. Physical Therapy Department Director, Jack Lucas, will present the educational program at a variety of locations throughout the upcoming year. The first of the educational programs is scheduled for March at the Goodland Senior Center. Lucas and members from the GRMC Physical Therapy Department will be on hand at the Sherman County Health Fair on Saturday, January 30, 2010 to conduct balance tests and evaluate individuals’ risk of falling. For more information about preventing falls in older adults, stop by the GRMC Physical Therapy booth at the Sherman County Health Fair, January 30 at the Northwest Kansas Technical College, or contact the Physical Therapy Department at (785) 890-6021. The first of several educational workshops will be held Monday, March 15 at 11 a.m. at the Goodland Senior Center. Take This Quiz to Assess Your Risk of Falling Many falls can be prevented. The questions below were taken from a checklist compiled by the GRMC Physical Therapy Department. For a complete checklist, visit the Physical Therapy booth at the 2010 Sherman County Health Fair. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, you should take actions to reduce your risk of falling.  Do you take more than four medications daily?Do you use a cane or walker or balance on furniture to walk?Do you feel dizzy, unsteady or weak when standing?Has it been more than two years since your had an eye exam?Do you have difficulty walking due to pain, stiffness, or numbness?Is your floor cluttered with objects, cords, or rugs that could trip you?Do you use a towel rack to help getting in and out of the tub or shower rather than a sturdy grab bar?Is the light near your bed difficult to reach?Do you walk barefoot or wear loose slippers rather than wear snug-fitting non-slip shoes inside and outside your house?Have you had any falls in the past six months? |
|||||||||
| 220 W. 2nd Street, Goodland, Kansas 67735, (785) 890-3625 | ||||||||||
