Health Beat - Fall 2019 - 8

Focusing on

Fall
Prevention
SRHC puts new emphasis
on helping people, especially
seniors, avoid potentially
devastating injury

By John Berggren

D

Data collected by the
Trauma Program at Salina
Regional Health Center in
2018 show that 71 percent of the traumas registered at the hospital were
attributed to a fall and 56 percent of
these patients were ages 65 and older.
Falling among seniors isn't a new
phenomenon, but what's startling is
that Salina and north central Kansas
are trending higher than the rest of the
state when it comes to fall risk.
Statewide, about 60 percent of all
traumas registered at hospitals were
falls. That disparity, along with input
from Salina Regional's COMCARE family physicians, has led SRHC to begin
a public campaign to educate seniors
about fall risk and improve access to
resources within the community that
can help.

Spreading the Word
Physical and occupational therapists
on staff have begun offering free fall
risk assessments throughout the community. In addition to a free screening
held at the hospital in April, they've
presented information to a number of
church and civic groups and at Salina
Central Mall, health fairs and other
community events.

8

srhc.com

Help for Fall Prevention
DCall Salina Regional's rehabilitation departments at

785-452-6787 or 785-452-6668 to request a speaker for
your group or for more information.
DVisit cdc.gov/steadi for fall prevention tips from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention's STEADI initiative.
Physical therapists can use a number of exercises to improve
balance and teach you exercises to do at home.
http://www.cdc.gov/steadi http://www.srhc.com
Health Beat - Fall 2019

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