National Injury Prevention Day; get support to help reduce fatalities
OTTAWA, ON, June 28, 2022 / CNW / – Injuries can occur anywhere, at home, at work, or while playing your favorite sport. Turned on National Injury Prevention Day, to be held on July 5, the Canadian Kinesiology Alliance wants to help raise awareness about the devastating effects of predictable and preventable injuries, especially among the elderly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an alarming situation, as the number of hospitalizations for falls in the elderly increased by 47% and the mortality rate from falls also increased in the last ten years1. Although they rarely appear in the headlines, falls among the elderly caused twice as many deaths as motor vehicle accidents (4,849 vs. 1,939) 2.
LESSONS RELATED TO FALLS BETWEEN THE GREAT HARD
According to the World Health Organization, approximately one third of the elderly fall each year1. This causes 85% of hospitalizations related to injuries, 95% of all hip fractures and 61% of deaths from injuries to older Canadians3. Of this group, women, people aged 80 and over and the elderly who live alone or on low incomes are at greater risk of falling. Falls on the same level (sliding, tripping or tripping), falls with furniture and falls by stairs are the three main types of falls that cause serious injury and death among the elderly.
PREVENTION IS KEY
Falls among the elderly are preventable; however, its multifactorial nature makes tackling this growing public health problem a shared responsibility. Progress in preventing falls and resulting injuries requires continued multisectoral collaboration, which includes governments, health care providers, non-governmental organizations, health care associations and services, and Canadians themselves.
“For the past two years, many seniors were confined to their homes and had limited chances of being physically active.explains Angelie Carter, president of the Canadian Kinesiology Alliance. We must now ensure that they can return to a more active lifestyle as soon as possible if we want to prevent an increase in falls in the following years, a figure that is already too high. Through safe physical activities as they challenge balance, kinesiologists, as experts in human movement, can help older people strengthen their hips and legs to prevent falls. In addition, a kinesiologist can also provide information about the impact of dehydration, low blood sugar, and medical conditions that can cause someone to fall.. “
“In addition to exercising regularly, the environment in which people live is also key to preventing falls, as half of the falls that result in hospitalization occur in a home1, Mrs. Carter continues. That’s why it’s important to evaluate someone’s home to spot risks of falling and help make it safer. Healthcare professionals as a kinesiologist can assess the risk of falling into someone’s home and help make changes to ensure safety.. “
QUICK DATA 3
- Every day, 48 Canadians die and 634 are hospitalized due to falls, making it the leading cause of death from injuries, hospitalizations, emergency department visits and disabilities in Canada.
- Every day an average of 13 elderly people die in Canada and 259 are hospitalized after a fall. In 2018, this resulted in 4,849 deaths, 94,529 hospitalizations, 424,609 emergency room visits and 28,310 disabilities.
- 75% of injury-related deaths are from unintended causes, such as falls, car accidents and poisonings.
- Fall-related injuries involving the elderly cost the health care system $ 5.6 billion annually, which is $ 15.3 million a day. The total cost of injuries to the Canadian economy is $ 80 million each day ($ 29.4 billion each year).
TIPS TO PREVENT FALLS
- Do balance exercises and resistance exercises focused on the upper legs, hips and core strength (such as OTAGO or SAIL exercises, tai chi, water aerobics, chair yoga and strength exercises with weights).
- Make a safe test of your home to minimize risks (remove carpets, add lighting to stairs, install sturdy handrails, etc.).
- Stay hydrated.
- Maintain a balanced diet.
- Watch out for medication, as some may be contributing to feeling dizzy or falling
ABOUT THE CANADIAN KINESIOLOGY ALLIANCE
Kinesiologists are specialists in human movement who offer scientific advice and physical activity treatments that improve recovery, health and well-being, at all stages of life. They can also help manage and prevent 25 of the most common chronic conditions such as arthritis, back pain, heart failure or stroke, coronary heart disease, hypertension, lung problems, anxiety, depression, diabetes and obesity. The Canadian Kinesiology Alliance (CKA) is a non-profit corporation that advocates for and promotes the advancement of the kinesiology profession in Canada. The CKA strives to be recognized as the unifying voice of the kinesiology profession in Canada and to have a positive impact on Canadians. Nationally, the CKA represents ten provincial kinesiology associations (PKAs) that are member associations and more than 4,400 affiliated kinesiologists. The CKA sets and promotes the standards of the profession across Canada.
Find a kinesiologist: www.cka.ca. See Moving Forward with COVID-19 – Kinesiology Guidelines. Watch videos to better understand how kinesiologists can help. Facebook and Twitter: @CdnKinesiology
FONT Canadian Kinesiology Alliance
For more information: To schedule an interview or for more information, contact: Sophie Allard, APR, (888) 523-2783, ext. 771 o [email protected]