WhidbeyHealth Medical Center will be holding a fall prevention awareness day 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, Sept. 22, at the Oak Harbor Senior Center.
Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injury for people 65 years of age and older, according to a news release from WhidbeyHealth. The medical center is partnering with Oak Harbor Senior Center and Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue for the event.
Nationally, every 11 seconds, an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a fall-related injury, which translates to two million fall-related injuries each year, according to the release. WhidbeyHealth Medical Center’s Emergency Department says it saw an estimated 1,500 patients last year for falls-related injuries.
The event awareness day hopes to drive home studies show that a combination of behavior changes can significantly reduce falls among older adults, including participation in a physical activity regimen, assessing one’s risk for falling, having medication reviewed periodically, keeping up to date on eye and ear checks and keeping the home environment safe from falling hazards.
All these topics and more will be included in discussions and demonstrations at the National Falls Prevention Awareness Day event. WhidbeyHealth presenters will include paramedic Robert May, Lifeline Services Coordinator Emilly MacCormick and physical therapist Jennifer Wesley. Also in attendance will be members of the Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue team.
The public is welcome to participate in this free event. Oak Harbor Senior Center is located at 51 SE Jerome St. in Oak Harbor. For more information on this event or on falls prevention, email mayrob@whidbeyhealth.org.
.
