February 21, 2018
The National Institute of Health reports that over 1.6 million older adults will require emergency room services due to fall-related injuries every year, and the likelihood of falling significantly increases as the weather gets colder. Winter-related slips and falls are one of the largest causes of work-related injuries. Colder weather causes ice to collect in open areas like parking lots and melted snow to accumulate inside doorways which are both very hazardous. Over 25 percent of these work-related winter falls occur in icy and slippery parking lots that lack handrails and other safety features. Always use elevators, handrails, tunnels, ramps or covered walkways when available to help prevent a serious fall. Individuals should always wear appropriate footwear when they can’t…