You feel like a right fool when you fall over don’t you. Well the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia had an April Falls Day last April to highlight the fact that falling is an under-estimated problem. Here are some other interesting facts.
Casuarina Communit Care
April Falls day
People from the NT are more likely than other Australians to require admission to hospital as a result of falling.
In the decade to 2008, 10,326 people were admitted to the Territory’s public hospitals as a result of falls, with the number steadily increasing each year
Falls have become the NT’s second most common cause of injury hospitalisation and fifth most common cause of injury death. Yet in many instances, they are preventable
• Recent figures show the NT recorded 680.5 falls hospitalisations per 100,000 people, compared with 607 per 100,000 people across Australia. The figures are even higher in the NT Aboriginal population, with 752.2 falls per 100,000 people & Non Aboriginal population rates are 649.9
• The message this April Falls Day is that falls can be prevented. Strategies include, being physically active, wearing correct and safe footwear, identifying and removing hazards from around the house, and with your GP, managing your health and medications”
• April Falls Day promotions occurred at Royal Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs Hospital as well as Casuarina, Palmerson & Alice Springs Community Care Centres and at the Darwin General practice Network NT
Recent figures show the NT recorded 680.5 falls hospitalisations per 100,000 people, compared with 607 per 100,000 people across Australia. The figures are even higher in the NT Aboriginal population, with 752.2 falls per 100,000 people & Non Aboriginal population rates are 649.9
The message this April Falls Day is that falls can be prevented. Strategies include, being physically active, wearing correct and safe footwear, identifying and removing hazards from around the house, and with your GP, managing your health and medications.
April Falls Day promotions occurred at Royal Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs Hospital as well as Casuarina, Palmerson & Alice Springs Community Care Centres and at the Darwin General practice Network NT
I would like to thank my Australian friends for bringing this newsletter to my attention. I think it is the best place you can go to for advice and ideas on falls prevention. There are a whole host of links and resources that you can trawl through.
