Doctors seeing an increase in injuries from falls among men
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Doctors are seeing an influx of falls among middle aged men. These falls tend to be from heights. Patients often fall from ladders or roofs while they’re working on their homes. Doctors are concerned by how common it has become. In the past four years, Hamilton’s emergency rooms have seen a 60-80 per cent rise in falls from heights.
“The numbers are much more than we’d expect and have, if anything, taken over from severe car crashes.” Trauma leader, Dr. Frank Baillie, says men account for most fall patients. People ages 45-54 visit the E.R. more often for falls than any age group other than people over 80. Most are from heights, which makes patients more likely to sustain a serious injury. “They are literally going head over heels and therefore the head is hitting the ground first.”
Broken bones and ruptured spleens are common injuries. But falls from roofs or tall ladders can result in much more catastrophic damage. “The things that are more worrisome are the severe head injuries. Particularly when they already take blood thinners or other medications. It just makes the situation worse.”
Dr. Baillie wants people to take extra caution when working from heights, or contract out the job. Even if you feel young, poor vision or a lapse in balance can lead to a fall- especially if you’re cutting corners. Practising proper ladder safety can help prevent falls but if you’re unsure of your stability, it’s not worth the risk.
