Florida Injury Prevention Programs for Seniors (FLIPS)

1. Florida Injury Prevention Programs for Seniors (FLIPS) Falls Prevention, Fire Safety, and Poison, Medication, & Food Safety

2. The Facts—Are Falls Really A Problem? • 1 in 3 seniors fall each year. • Those who have fallen once have a greater chance of falling later. • In 1999, ~21,000 seniors in Florida were hospitalized due to hip fractures from falls. • Indirect costs: loss of independence and decreased quality of life.

3. Lifestyle Behaviors—Balance • You need good vision to help stabilize you. • Your feet must be able to feel the ground. • Exercise and strength training • Appropriate footwear • Talk to your doctor about medications that make you dizzy.

4. Lifestyle Behaviors—Exercise & Nutrition • 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week (2 miles of brisk walking or dancing) • Eat the right foods and get plenty of calcium and vitamin D • Drink plenty of water • Avoid alcoholic beverages

5. Downward Cycle of Fear move slower/ avoid movements decreased strength and endurance What YOU CAN do… improve balance ask for help or use helpful devices when necessary stay active Lifestyle Behaviors—Confident Attitude

6. Home Fall Hazards • Clear walkways of: • cords and hoses • throw rugs • pets • clutter • Increase lighting • Add rails to stairways • Need porch railings • Clean wet floors

7. Taking Charge! • Talk to your doctor about: • dizziness, especially with regards to medications. • chronic diseases such as Arthritis, Diabetes, & Osteoporosis. • starting an exercising program etc. • See a Physical Therapist about: • improving you balance and strength. • walking with assistive devices like canes. • See an Occupational Therapist about: • home safety. • for special needs or assistive device use like reachers. • See an eye doctor for a yearly eye exam.

8. Empower Yourself! • Exercise • Stay physically and mentally active • Eat well • Drink lots of water • Do not let fear stop you!

9. Basic Fire Dynamics • It takes three components to make a fire: • heat • fuel • oxygen

10. Fire Hazards That Affect YOU • Cooking accidents • Unsafe smoking • Heating equipment • Faulty wiring

11. Home Fire Hazards—Eliminate Them! • Conduct a home safety survey • Exterior hazards • lighting, shrubbery, visible house numbers, etc. • Interior hazards • survey each room of the house

12. Home Fire Hazards—The Kitchen • The most dangerous room • Check cords on electrical appliances • replace frayed or worn cords • unplug appliances when not in use • Use safe cooking practices • never leave cooking unattended • pot handles/covers/microwaves • no storage in ovens • Fire Extinguisher

13. Home Fire Hazards—Safety Devices • Early warning devices • smoke alarms/heat detectors: Check monthly and change the batteries 2 times a year. • carbon monoxide (CO) detectors: In a fire, most people die from CO poisoning. • Safety Measures • residential sprinklers • fire resistive clothing/upholstery • lifeline alerts

14. Home Fire Hazards—Escape Plan: Exit Drills In The Home (E.D.I.T.H.) • Know two ways out of each room. • Designate a meeting place outside. • Discuss what to do about pets. • Have a chain ladder for 2 story homes. • Practice it!

15. The Fire Plan—What To Do In The Event of a Fire • Get low and go • Get out fast • Once out, stay out • Call 9-1-1 from a neighbor’s house • If burned, run cold water over the burn. • Don’t use home remedies like butter. 9-1-1

16. Prevention & Education • Why do seniors need to know about poison safety? • To protect themselves. • Most common poisons for Florida Seniors are medications, household poisons, food poisoning. • To protect their loved ones.

17. Causes of Medication Poisoning • Interactions from multiple prescription drugs • Over-the-counter or herbal drug interactions • Taking another persons’ drugs • Vision or reading difficulties • Sensitivity to drugs due to allergies, poor kidney or liver function, concurrent illnesses • No system to remember medication doses like a pill box • Self-adjusting drug dosages

18. Safe Medication Principles • Keep a list of all current drugs in your wallet. • Keep your drugs in a separate place from drugs belonging to other family members. • Take medicine in a well-lighted area. • Ask for clear instructions on all new drugs. • Record possible problems with your drugs and tell your physician. • Children may be at greater risk of medication poisoning, when they are with their grandparents. So keep medications out of reach.

19. Causes of Household Poisonings • Look-alikes • Storing non-food items next to food • Storing chemicals in drink bottles • Mixing cleaners • Using cleaners without gloves or ventilation • Leaving poisons in easy reach • Child-resistant containers or latches not in use • Storing water in any other containers other than water containers

20. Safe Product Usage • Store in original container • Store in a secured location • Store poisons away from food • Child resistant containers or cabinet latches • Follow directions when using products • Rinse & dry when adding a second cleaner

21. Food Safety • Wash hands using lots of friction • W—warm • A—and • S—soapy • H—happy birthday • Wash dishes and utensils after contact with raw meat or eggs. • Sanitize food preparation surfaces monthly with bleach water & let air-dry. • Keep hot food hot and cold food cold.

22. The Poison Center Hotline—1-800-222-1222 • Provides advice after poisoning . • Provides advice after poisoning. • Answers question to help prevent poisonings. • Most poisonings can be managed at home with the help of the Poison Control Center. • Free, confidential service • 24 hours a day, 7 days a week