|
|
|
|
|
| Home > Fact
of the Week > Street Smart Senors |
| |
|
11-30-2009
Preparedness
Facts of the Week
by
Elizabeth Hall, Emergency
Response Assistant
Kings County Office of Emergency Management |
|
|
>
| |
Street
Smarts of Senior Pedestrians
|
|
| |
If the answer to living a long life
could be found simply by walking around the block,
would you do it? |
|
| |
|
|
| |
It may not be quite that easy, but maintaining
a physically active lifestyle has been proven to
help people remain healthy, live longer, and feel
better. Daily walking is among the best ways for
senior citizens to keep active. It's easy, inexpensive,
and almost anyone can do it. Failure to exercise
regularly results in poor muscle tone, decreased
strength, and loss of bone mass and flexibility.
But as simple as walking is, it can be very
dangerous for a senior. Persons age 65 and over
makeup 13 percent of the population, but account
for 23 percent of all pedestrian fatalities.
That means seniors are almost twice as likely
to be killed by a motor vehicle as other people
are.
The risk of falling also increases with age
and is greater for women than for men. Two-thirds
of those who experience a fall will fall again
within six months, and a decrease in bone density
contributes to falls and resultant injuries.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Risk Factors Increase |
|
| |
As people age, many inevitable physical changes
occur that make it difficult for them to be safe
when walking around, so it is important to consider
these factors as you walk:
- Walk on sidewalks. If you must walk on
a road with no sidewalks, walk facing traffic.
- Cross
only at street corners, preferably those
with a traffic light, and within marked
crosswalks.
- Wear
bright-colored or reflective clothing, especially
if you have to walk at night.
I would suggest a flashlight.
- Avoid
walking in the dark and during bad weather
such as snow, rain, ice, or fog.
- Look
left, right, and left again before crossing
the street, and be on the lookout
for turning
or backing vehicles.
- Make
eye contact with the driver before crossing
in front of a vehicle. Stay out of
the driver's
blind spot.
- Learn
the proper use of "Walk/Don't Walk" signals.
- Walk
and cross with other pedestrians whenever
possible.
- Wear
proper and well-maintained footwear with
low heels or rubber soles.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Yes, these are all the basics that most of us
have heard before, but not everyone practices them.
Another safety issue is carrying items that add
more effort to their walking. Sometimes this can
throw off their balance and cause them to lose
their footing which increases their chances of
tripping and/or falling.
Not
many seniors will take a cell phone with
them while walking, so it becomes harder
to get help if they are walking alone and
encounter any problems. You might want to
encourage them to walk with a "buddy" vs.
walking alone.
With the holiday season already in motion,
so will many more people on the roads be,
adding more chances of accident or injury. |
>>
|
|
|
|
Do
your part for safety awareness by passing this
information along to anyone you can think of
who would benefit.
Have
a great week, and remember…… Be Responsible - Be Ready - Be Prepared!
Your Emergency Preparedness
Team Sabrina Bustamante & Elizabeth
Hall
Office of Emergency Management
280 Campus Drive Hanford, CA 93230
(559) 582-3211, Ext. 2634
www.kingscountyoem.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
