April Falls Awareness Campaign

April 12, 2012

April Falls Awareness Campaign

The Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) has launched an awareness campaign this month to help prevent falls in hospital and within the community.

The April Falls campaign aims to assist in raising awareness and education on falls prevention.

Ken Stewart, from the CDHB’s Clinical Board, says each week 40 people over the age of 75 arrive at Christchurch Hospital as a result of a fall and more than two thirds are admitted to hospital.

“One of our targets is to achieve a reduction of at least 20 percent in the number of over 75-year-olds presenting to hospital with a fall related injury by April 2014,” Ken says.

“It’s about making sure everyone is aware that they have a responsibility to help reduce falls.”

The April Falls campaign is designed to encourage people to take action to reduce the risk of falling, either for themselves or for someone in their whanau/community, Ken says.

As part of the campaign the key ideas below have been developed to help increase awareness and education on falls prevention.

Three simple things you can do to prevent falls at home:

1. Start a recommended exercise programme to maintain strength and improve balance.
2. Make your home safe – keep floors clutter-free, fix down carpets, tidy power cords.
3. Push with your legs and steady with your hands when getting up from a chair.

Community health professionals can help you prevent falls at home:

1. Your General Practice team and pharmacist can review your medications.
2. Your Physiotherapist can recommend an exercise programme to improve strength and balance.
3. Blurred vision makes falling more likely. Get your eyes checked by an optometrist.

For more information about reducing the risk of falling at home, a local Falls Champion can be contacted through General Practice teams, community nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists or other health professionals.

ENDS

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