Stop the Slip

Book excerpt: Slips, trips and falls are a chronic health problem in the US and around the world. Fall injuries are the number one cause of emergency room visits and the fourteenth leading cause of death in the US. The average person is 7 times more likely to die from a fall than from the flu and 3 times more likely to die from a fall than by a firearm. Since 1999, we have reduced deaths from heart disease 15%. Deaths caused by auto accidents are down 12%. But during that same time period deaths from falls have increased over 150%. Both injuries and deaths caused by falls are at record highs and the problem continues to grow. We've learned how to fix the human heart and we have made driving safer. Now is the time to focus on preventing fall injuries.The good news is that fall injuries are preventable. Everyone falls, but falls don't just happen, they're preceded by other events. When you eliminate those events, you reduce the risk of falling. Stop the Slip shows how you can avoid these injuries. Following the simple five step A-L-E-R-T System(tm) discussed in the book you will reduce your risk of falling.Thom Disch provides an entertaining and engaging look at: Why we fall; where we fall; the business side of falls; and most importantly how we can prevent and avoid fall injuries. The book is a comprehensive mix of research on the topic of falls and fall injuries mixed with real world stories and experiences about falls and their consequences. As you read this book you'll also discover many interesting and surprising facts. For example: *Fall injuries are not just a problem for the elderly. 75% of all fall injuries happen to people under the age of 68.*The annual economic impact of fall injuries in the US exceeds $150 billion, or more than 1% of our gross domestic product. *Falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries. *Falls cause nearly 4 times more emergency room visits than auto accidents.