Palm Beach County Firemen Want To Prevent Seniors from Falling in Delray Beach
When An Elderly Person Falls, Palm Beach County Fire Comes to the Rescue
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue has responded to 10,000 fall cases so far this year, and these firemen have this message for seniors: “watch your step.”
“Seniors must be constantly aware of the dangers of falling. District Chief Anthony Tozzi of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue’s 4th Battalion recently talked about the calls fire-rescue personnel respond to in their coverage area that includes unincorporated areas of Boynton Beach and Delray Beach”.
“‘Last year, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue ran 135,647 calls of which 117,371 were emergency medical calls and 72,362 required transport to a medical facility,’ he said.”
According to Tozzi, the top 5 emergency medical call categories in Delray Beach are: sick person; fall with injury; respiratory/trouble breathing; chest pain/cardiac; and falls (uninjured).
Capt. Bob Smallacombe, who oversees the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue’s Community Education Department, recommends the following precautions to guard against falls:
- Check with your private medical doctor regularly to have a medication assessment, ruling out any interactions that could cause balance problems, weakness or confusion
- Become engaged with a physician-approved exercise program
- Increase lighting in any dimly-lighted walkways, hallways or rooms
- Keep pathways and rooms clear — no throw rugs, spills or clutter
- Watch your step
- Keep moving and be active
“This past month, Lt. Tiffany Saavedra from Station 42 (on Hagen Ranch Road in Delray Beach) responded to a patient who had fallen with injuries. The patient was transported to an area hospital for treatment and evaluation," Tozzi said. “Throughout her 24-hour shift and in between the many other emergencies Lt. Saavedra transported…, she made a point of checking in on her fall patient at least three different times.”
Click here to read more about our Delray Beach First Responders and how to help stop falls.
Source: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/gateway-gazette/fl-cn-boynton-beach-senior-falls-20190731-20190726-mjww5kcjznfk3eavk3erurwdku-story.html
We are so lucky in Delray Beach to have such amazing first responders in our community, and we thank Palm Beach County Fire Rescue for their service and commend their fall prevention efforts to help protect seniors.
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