Trauma Prevention

Falling is the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in adults age 65 or older. To put that in perspective, emergency departments treat 3 million older people for fall injuries annually.

• One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury
• More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling, usually by falling sideways
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries 

Tips to Prevent Falls 

• Enlist the help of family members to create a safer home environment
• Find a good balance and exercise program to build balance, strength and flexibility
• Talk to your healthcare provider about a fall risk assessment
• Regularly review your medications with your doctor and pharmacist to ensure medication side effects are not increasing your fall risk
• Have your vision check every year, and update your prescriptions when needed
• Keep your home safe by removing trip hazards, increasing lighting, and ensuring you have handrails or grab bars installed in key areas
• Make sure you place ladders on level surfaces, away from doorways and electrical wires
• Know your risk factors; 
• Females and older adults have a greater fall risk
• Previous falls can result in more falls
• Multiple chronic conditions can increase fall risk
• Pets, cords, uneven surfaces and weather conditions are trip/slip hazards

For more information:

• Visit the CDC website
• Take a class that can help you build muscle strength and improve your balance
• Email questions to seniorfallsprevention@gmail.com

• When driving children to school, drop them off and pick them up as close to the school as possible
• Reduce any distractions inside the car so you can concentrate on the road
• Put your cell phone away, and don’t talk or text while driving
• Don’t drive away until children are inside or accompanied by school staff
• If your child stays home alone, tell him or her to keep the doors locked and not let anyone inside
• Make sure your child walks to school with a sibling or friends, never alone; there’s safety in numbers
• Make sure your child’s backpack has two padded straps and does not weigh more than 10%-20% of his or her body weight
• Post a list of emergency phone numbers near the phone
• Remind children to use traffic signals and to avoid using headphones or other devices that distract them from their surroundings when they are walking
• Research your child’s route to school to identify sexual offenders (registered with the state and local law enforcement agencies) and other dangers 

For Cyclists

• Wear a biking helmet that meets approved safety standards and fits properly
• If your helmet sustains impact in an accident, replace it; even if it looks fine, the smallest crack can make it unsafe
• Add reflectors to the bike's front, rear, pedals, and handgrips, and wear reflective clothing
• Avoid riding at dusk or in the dark
• At the start of each riding season, check the brakes, inspect the tires and tire pressure, and make sure the bike fits the rider
• Bikes are considered vehicles, so cyclists should obey the same road rules
• Don't drink and bike; alcohol was a factor in 37% of deadly bicycle crashes in 2017

Learn more tips.

For Drivers

• Bicyclists are difficult to spot, so look for them at intersections and make eye contact
• Bicycles often appear to be traveling faster than they really are
• Share the road and give riders some space
• Don’t honk at cyclists, as it may startle them and cause them to lose control

Distracted drivers are responsible for 15% of fatal crashes and 20% of crash-related injuries, and the numbers continue to climb. Studies and accident data continue to prove that drivers using electronic devices are much more likely to be involved in a car accident than drivers who aren’t. Texting takes your eyes off the road an average of 4.6 seconds. At 55 miles per hour, that's the equivalent of driving the length of a football field blindfolded.

Distractions also come from eating, drinking, reading, applying makeup, conversing with passengers, pets, children and the driver's own state of mind. Pedestrians age 65 and older have the highest pedestrian death rate; be watchful and slow down for older pedestrians.

Passengers Can Help

As a passenger, you help the driver stay focused by:

• Being the navigator and helping with map-reading
• Answering the driver’s cell phone or texts
• Controlling temperature settings
• Helping read signs
• Managing the needs of children and pets in the car

Driving in Bad Weather

• Drive with your headlights on in bad weather; if you have to turn on your windshield wipers, turn on your lights.
• Understand that four-wheel drive won't help you stop any faster
• Trucks take longer to stop; don't cut in front of them
• If the pavement is wet, don't use cruise control
• Brake accordingly
  • If you have antilock brakes, press down hard
  • If you don't have antilock brakes, gently pump your brakes

Stay safe when using a fireplace and wood stove.

• Burn only seasoned hardwood - oak, ash or maple are best
• Don’t burn trash, as it can contain poisons or burn erratically
• Have a professional inspect your chimney every year
• Use a UL-approved creosote log to reduce the buildup of creosote
• Use glass doors or screens to prevent sparks from escaping
• Install a smoke detector and a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector; test the batteries monthly
• Use fireplaces, wood stoves or other combustion heaters only if they're properly vented to the outside and won’t leak flue gas into the indoor air space

Sparklers burn at 2,000 F or hotter. That’s as hot as a blow torch or a charcoal fire in a grill—a temperature that can melt copper. Fireworks, such as bottle rockets and small firecrackers, may appear harmless because of their small size, but they send thousands of people to emergency rooms each year, particularly around the Fourth of July.

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks
• Don't light multiple fireworks at the same time and be sure to move a safe distance away immediately after lighting
• Don't point or throw a lit firework at another person
• Don't stand over the fuse when lighting a firework
• Don't try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not gone off or functioned fully
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers
• Always keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby to safely discard or extinguish fireworks
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them
• There’s no such thing as safe explosives, especially for kids

Many gun deaths and traumatic injuries can be prevented by improving firearm handling and safe storage.

• Treat every weapon/gun as if it were loaded
• Never point the muzzle at anything you don’t intend to shoot
• Identify the target before you fire
• Keep the weapon safe and your finger off the trigger until you intend to shoot
• Never handle a weapon if you’re intoxicated or under the influence of any medication that may impair your judgment or motor skills
• Keep guns away from those at risk of hurting themselves or others
• Always read the owner’s manual before using a firearm
• Always check all chambers of the gun before cleaning
• The safest way to store a gun in your home is unloaded and securely locked, with the bullets locked in a separate container in a different secured location
• Easy ways to safely store guns include: locking gun cases or safes, locking gun cabinets, trigger and cable locks

To find updated firearm safe storage laws in your state, visit statefirearmlaws.org.

If you are concerned that someone you know should not have a gun because he or she is violent, suicidal, or at risk of accidental injury, alert the local police or call 911.

During a heatwave, it's important to keep cool. The best defense against a heat-related illness is prevention. 

Stay cool by:

• Staying hydrated; don't wait until you're thirsty to drink
• Avoid alcohol and drinks containing lots of sugar, as they can make you lose more body fluid
• Avoid very cold drinks, as they can cause stomach cramps
• If you’re perspiring, try to drink one quart of liquid per hour; sports drinks are fine
• Keep a spray bottle of water in the fridge and give yourself a spritz, starting on the wrists, when you're hot
• In temperatures above 90° F, fans won't cool you; go somewhere with air conditioning for a few hours or take a cool shower
• Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothes and cover your head and shoulders
• During the heat of the day, eat light meals that incorporate hydrating fruits and vegetables 
• Never leave children (or pets) unattended in the car
• Place your purse, briefcase, lunch, etc. in the back seat of your vehicle to remind you children are there

• Make sure the area you’re mowing is free of debris; rocks and toys can become flying missiles and cause serious trauma injuries
• Wear protective gloves, goggles and sturdy, closed-toed footwear
• Remove debris from mower blades with a stick, not your hand, when the mower is turned off
• When mowing hills:
  • On a walk-behind mower, mow sideways
  • With a riding mower, mow left to right
• Never give anyone a ride on a riding lawnmower

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissions Handbook for Public Playground Safety advises parents and caregivers:

• Remove hood-and-neck drawstrings from children’s clothing and outerwear
• Don’t let kids wear necklaces or scarves on the playground, as these things can get caught and cause strangulation
• Wear sunscreen and remember that the sun makes metal hot and a hot slide can burn skin
• Kids should slide feet first, sitting up - never head first
• Avoid playgrounds with asphalt, concrete, grass and dirt surfaces under playground equipment
  • Surfacing material such as shredded rubber, mulch, wood chips or sand are less likely to cause serious injury from a fall
  • The surfacing material should be 12 inches deep and extend 6 feet around all equipment
• Make sure play areas allow you to see clearly where your children are playing at all times

Using common sense and being cautious when running outdoors can keep you from getting hurt or becoming a victim.

• Make sure someone knows you're running
• Try to stay off of the street, or run against traffic so you can see cars coming toward you
• Be visible by wearing bright or white clothing and reflective gear 
• Don’t run alone at night no matter how comfortable you feel; there’s safety in numbers
• Carry ID in your pocket, wear an ID tag on your shoe or carry a cell phone with your ICE (In Case of Emergency) numbers saved
• Carry some cash or an ATM card in case you need a ride home
• Don’t make assumptions about drivers; many aren’t paying attention
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street
• Watch out for other runners and call out which side you’ll be passing on
• Trust your instincts; if you feel uncomfortable with someone, run the other direction

In the United States, a motor vehicle crash is a leading cause of death before someone turns 30 years old. Whether you are planning a short trip to the grocery store or a long road trip to Grandma’s house, take time to click it.

• Seat belt usage and appropriate child safety seats (correct age, size and installation) can reduce serious injury and death by 50%.
• Front seat drivers and passengers who wear seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45% and moderate to critical injury by 50%.
• National seat belt usage in the United States totaled 90.3% in 2020.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 15,000 lives are saved each year thanks to the 90% of Americans who wear seat belts.
• Airbags work with seat belts. One doesn’t replace the other.

Missouri Laws

• Require seat belts for drivers and front seat passengers ages 16 and older. Seat belts are mandatory for passengers younger than age 16 in all seats.
• Violations of Missouri’s seat belt laws can result in up to $50 in fines plus court costs. A driver who fails to comply with child passenger restraint laws and a child is injured, may face criminal charges.

Kansas Laws

• A driver can be stopped and fined up to $60 plus court costs if a child is riding unrestrained in a vehicle.
• Police officers can stop and issue a ticket to the driver if the driver or any front seat passenger isn’t buckled. Back seat passengers may be cited only if there is another citable offense identified. Seat belts are mandatory for passengers younger than age 18 in all seats.
• Vehicle manufacturers must carry full warranties on seat belts for 10 years.

Find More Reasons to Wear a Seat Belt

• Missouri Highway Patrol 
• Kansas Highway Patrol
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Have a home safety plan in place in case a tornado strikes. One of the most important things you can do during tornado season is to be alert. Stay alert and you’ll stay alive.

• Know the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning and how your community alerts you to each
• Sign up for weather alerts on your computer, phone and mobile devices
• Have a predetermined place or “safe room” for warnings
• Cover your head with your arms and hands and your body with blankets or a coat
• Have sturdy shoes, a flashlight, and a radio with extra batteries ready to grab and go
• Know how to turn off gas, electricity and water
• Never strike a match until you’re sure there isn’t a gas leak
• Beware of broken glass and live power lines lying on the ground
• Don't stay in your care during a tornado; it's the most dangerous place to be
  • Leave your car, and go to lower ground or a ditch; underpasses are no safer than your car
  • Lie down and cover your head
• Have a designated person in another town or city to be the “contact person” should you become separated from your family

Additionally, hundreds of people are killed or injured by lightning each year; when thunder roars, go indoors.

• Never swim alone
• Know your limits; even an experienced swimmer can feel cramps and fatigue
• Don’t allow children under the age of 15 to drive any type of watercraft, and always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket
• Alcohol is a major factor in 50% of all teen and adult drowning; don't mix alcohol and water sports
• Know how deep the water is before diving in; consider unfamiliar or cloudy water shallow

Pool Safety

Each year, thousands of people go to the emergency room due to injuries in pools and spas. Hundreds of children under age 15 drown in swimming pools and spas. 

• Practice the following pool safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):
• Never take your eyes off children in the water, and designate a “pool watcher” when children are out of your sight
• Install a 4-foot barrier, such as a fence with self-closing and self-latching gates around residential pools; if a house serves as the fourth side of a barrier, secure doors with alarms to prevent children from wandering into the pool area
• Avoid using a pool or spa if there are broken or missing drain covers; suction from a  drain can be so powerful it can trap an adult underwater; ask your pool operator if your pool or spa’s drains are compliant with the Pool and Spa Safety Act
• Learn how to swim and teach your children how to swim
• Learn to perform CPR so you can help save a life if a water emergency happens
• Understand the basics of lifesaving so you can assist in an emergency
• Use and maintain pool alarms, covers and compliant drain covers to protect those using your pool
• Keep lifesaving equipment, such as life rings and reaching poles, close at hand