5 Most Dangerous Products for People over 60
As we age, our balance, coordination, strength and vision can start to deteriorate. This can make it far more likely that elderly people will fall down – and will sustain serious injuries from these falling accidents. What can be just as distressing as this may be the facts that:
- Many harmful falls happen in elderly people’s homes.
- Some everyday products can increase the risk that elderly individuals will fall and get hurt at home.
Looking to pinpoint these risky products, researchers at Health Grove analyzed about 17 years of data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to rank the most dangerous products for the elderly. Below is a snapshot of their findings.
These Products Present the Biggest Risks to Elderly Individuals
Flooring materials, such as carpets, rugs and broken tiles – Annually, more than 385,000 elderly Americans are hurt as a result of accidents caused by flooring materials. Slips, trips and falls are the biggest risk associated with these items.
- Stairs – Each year in the U.S., more than 187,100 elderly individuals are hurt in stair-related accidents, with falls down the stairs being the single biggest cause of injury.
- Beds – Annually, nearly 100,000 elderly Americans are hurt getting into or out of bed. Falling in/out of bed becomes an increasingly significant concern as leg strength decreases and coordination/balancing is more challenging for aging people.
- Chairs and couches, including rocking/folding chairs, stools and recliners – Each year, just over 81,000 elderly Americans are hurt in accidents involving a fall or tumble out of a chair or couch.
- Furniture, such as desks, tables and dressers (but not including beds or chairs) – Annually, more than 67,100 elderly Americans are injured in furniture-related accidents. While these accidents can involve furniture collapses or furniture falling on elderly individuals, they can also include elderly individuals walking into furniture.
5 Ways to Reduce the Risks associated with These Products
Given that the above products can be essential features of homes, here are a handful of things that can be done to reduce the risk* that any of these items will cause an accident or injury to an elderly loved one:
- Make sure your elderly loved one is using an up-to-date eyeglasses prescription.
- Make sure your elderly loved one is wearing shoes that fit.
- Get these loved ones mobility and/or walking aides.
- Check the medications your elderly loved one is taking to see if potential complications can include balance or vision issues.
- Keep halls and walkways in and around homes clear, free of hazards that could cause falls.
Contact a Columbia SC Personal Injury Lawyer at Chappell Smith & Arden, P.A. Attorneys at Law
If you have been injured by a defective or dangerous product, contact a Columbia SC personal injury lawyer at Chappell Smith & Arden, P.A. for answers about your options for financial recovery.
Call our firm at 866-881-8623 or email us via the contact form on this page to set up a free, no obligations initial consult with one of our lawyers. During this meeting, you can find out more about your rights, as well as how we can help you.
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*According to CSPC