How to protect yourself after a fall

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/10/2018 (2625 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

November is quickly approaching, meaning snow and ice will soon be on the ground and here to stay — for the next while, that is.

November is Fall Prevention Month in Canada, a campaign that encourages organizations to raise awareness and educate people on the risks they face when falling.

Learning how to fall is very important in preventing most injuries — how to break a fall if falling backwards and how to momentum-roll over the shoulder when falling forward.

Taking the time to learn these techniques can save you from serious injury.

“To me, fall prevention is a part of fall awareness,” says Mike Sadlowski, health promoter and mobility specialist at NorWest Co-op Community Health. “There’s a good chance people will fall — it’s inevitable. Safeguarding against that is important, but so is knowing what to do once you’ve fallen.”
Sadlowski says that if you’ve fallen the first thing to do is call for help. To do so — if you’re able — move your body from a prone position into a crawl.  Once mobility is established, then safely find a way to call for help.  

Even if you think you’re OK, always contact a medical specialist after a fall. Have someone take you to a medical clinic to be examined because, even if you feel fine, a concussion you may not even be aware of can be fatal.

NorWest Co-op Community Health offers L.I.M.B. (Lifestyle Improvement from Movement and Balance) classes — a free program for anyone concerned with falling – including caregivers. The classes come with a full exercise prescription plan to address weakness and get people moving better.

Held on Mon., Oct. 29, L.I.M.B is offered at two locations: 1880 Alexander Ave., from 1:30 to 3 p.m.; and 785 Keewatin St. from 6 to 8 p.m. To sign up, please call 204-938-5900 and specify which location you’d like to attend.

NorWest Co-op Community Health also offers one-on-one consultations for people residing in the Inkster and Seven Oaks areas, but it’s required that you attend a L.I.M.B. session beforehand.
“Remember, taking the steps to learn how to fall is great but, when you actually fall, the worst thing to do is nothing. While bone fractures may make moving extremely difficult, a concussion is very serious and can be fatal if left untreated,” Sadlowski said.

Nancy Heinrichs is the executive director of NorWest Co-op Community Health Centre. Email questions or comments to nheinrichs@norwestcoop.ca