Indicator: Falls

 

Definition: Rate of inpatient hospitalization due to an injury from a fall per 100,000 individuals.

 

Why is this important: Falls are a largely preventable public health problem. As individuals age, an injury becomes difficult to recover from and may lead to mobility impairment and difficulty living independently. Preventing injuries from falls may be done by maintaining safe play equipment for children, supervising children around fall hazards, and using home safety devices like window guards or stair gates to keep children safe. For older adults, regular exercise, a review of medicines, regular vision checks, removing trip hazards, and home safety devices like grab bars may help prevent falls.

Where are we: In 2009 in Spokane County, there were 1,896 hospitalizations due to an injury from a fall. The fall rate significantly increased from 2005 to 2009. The 2009 fall rate in Spokane County was significantly higher than that of Washington State.

 

Among Spokane County residents in 2009:

Additional Information: During 2006-2010, there were nearly 22,000 visits to Spokane County emergency departments (ED) for a fall-related injury by seniors 65 years of age or older. Two in three individuals only had one ED visit for a fall in the five year period.