The Best ways to avoid Slips, Trips, and Falls

Here at Hastings and Hastings, we see a large number of personal injury cases involving slips, trips, and falls come through our doors each and every year. Through the hundreds of these cases we have dealt, we have learned a lot about how and why slips, trips, and falls occur. We have also learned a number of steps that can be taken to help avoid these accidents and reduce the frequency in which they occur.

Knowing your Danger Areas

The first step in reducing your risk of experience a slip, trip, or fall, is learning where these accident take place most of the time. We call this “knowing your danger areas.” The kitchen and the bathroom are the two most dangerous rooms in the home in terms of your likelihood to slip of fall. Additionally, you should be awareacutely aware of fall risks in particularly dangerous areas, such as around stairs, balconies, and near large second story windows.

Reducing Risk in Danger Areas

Now that you know where the danger areas are, you need consider steps you can take to reduce the risk associated with these areas. The bathroom, one of the most dangerous rooms in the home, almost seems as if it was designed as a place for slips and falls to occur. The tile floor of the bathroom, and the smooth surface of the shower become untenably slick when they get wet. Install non-slip shower mats and put down towels to soak up moisture. There is no indignity in using shower hand railings as well. The best way to prevent slips and falls in the kitchen is to maintain a clean, uncluttered environment. Experiencing a slip or fall is here particularly dangerous because you could hit your head or neck on the hard, unyielding countertops.