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Ohio program aims at preventing falls
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Bonnie Burman held up one of those hard-to-tear bracelets that are placed on people’s wrists when they go to the hospital seeking medical attention.
This one was yellow and read, “Falls Risk,” warning about the potential for further injury.
Burman, the director of the Ohio Department of Aging, received the wristband earlier this summer after falling, hurting her head and ending up in the emergency room.
She described the incident to seniors at a Columbus-area recreation center Monday to show how prevalent such accidents are and how important it is to try to prevent them.
“I am the poster child for a falls risk in this administration and in this state, which is my way of saying to all of you, it can happen to anybody,” she said.
Burman joined Gov. John Kasich to announce the launch of a new initiative, titled “Steady U Ohio,” which backers hope will help to reduce the number of injuries that occur every year when people trip, slip and fall.
Burman called falls an “epidemic” affecting most Ohio families.
“Falls are the leading cause of injury-related ER visits, hospital stays and deaths for people over 65,” she said, adding, “In Ohio, an elder falls every two minutes, resulting in an emergency room visit every eight minutes.”
Steady U Ohio includes a new website (www.steadyu.ohio.gov) with information about the health and economic impact of falls and ways to avoid injury.
The state also plans to offer “A Matter of Balance,” an exercise program, in all 88 counties. And officials will work with businesses and nursing homes to identify and remove hazards that could cause people to fall.
“Ohio’s seniors are integral members of our communities, and we want them to live long, healthy lives,” Kasich said in a released statement. “To help keep older Ohioans safe and maintain their independence, we are calling on every county, every community and every individual to learn what each of us can do to prevent falls and falls-related injuries. Working together, we can reduce falls among our elders.”