Dear Member of the Yale ’63 Family,
I’m forwarding some timely reflections from Sam Francis 
of the Yale Class of 1964

Guy


From: Sam Francis, Yale Class of 1964 
Sent: Thursday, April 4, 2024 1:32 PM
To: Struve, Guy Miller 
Subject: Dangers of falls
    An email from Sam Francis, Yale '64
Dangers of falls
    April 4, 2024
    To the Class of 1964:
    After the sad and sudden death of Joe Lieberman due to complications
    from a fall (see Joe’s In Memoriam page), there has been a flurry of
    classmate email correspondence regarding the prevalence and dangers
    of falls among us. Joe’s death is a cautionary tale, as was classmate
    Dennis Upper’s death 5½ years ago when he fell down a flight of 13
    stairs and died the next day (see his In Memoriam page). Because I’m
    an EMT on an ambulance squad, I was urged by some of you to
    communicate some thoughts on the subject.
    As an EMT dealing with medical emergencies of all kinds, I’m well
    sensitized to the dangers of falls, which are the most frequent cause of
    ambulance dispatches in my town by more than a factor of two over the
    next most frequent emergencies (motor vehicle crashes, breathing
    difficulties). More than a third of seniors in our age bracket report a fall in
    the last year, and half of those seniors report multiple falls. These
    statistics are undoubtedly lower bounds on the problem, because such
    incidents are generally under-reported. In short, falls are not just
    something that happens to other people, and are nothing to take lightly.


Some of my dispatches turn out to be simply lift assists for patients who
have fallen and can’t get up. But at our age, falls can have very serious
consequences, due to osteoporosis and other frailties, with risks
exacerbated if you are on a blood thinner, as many of us are for atrial
fibrillation. Head trauma can lead to subdural hematoma (internal
bleeding), the deadliest of head injuries. Hip fracture from a fall is
common and often devastating, with 50% of geriatric patients with a hip
fracture dying within six months.
What can you do to keep from falling? Most precautions are quite
obvious, once you stop to think about it.
   # Develop a healthy fear of falling, even if you’ve never fallen. It only
     has to happen once, as Joe’s and Dennis’ stories attest.
   # Install and use grab bars in your shower and bath.
   # Install and use railings on your staircases, preferably on both
     sides. And install free-standing handrails for your outside steps.
   # Be obsessively careful when climbing or descending stairs,
     watching each step (literally), particularly when going downstairs.
     Don’t ever carry anything with two hands. Keep one hand free and
     grip the railing.
   # Stay off ladders and stepstools unless you can brace yourself. Let
     someone else clean the gutters.
   # Stay well clear of icy surfaces.
   # Consider investing in a medical alert device and wear it all the
     time, even in the shower. This is particularly important if you live
     alone. An Apple watch or smartphone may serve much the same
     purpose, allowing you to call for help, but you’re unlikely to take
     those devices into the shower with you..
   # Exercise for half an hour most days of the week, for strength and
     balance. And don’t sit in one position for long periods. Stretch and
     walk around at least once an hour.
   # If you have balance issues, use a cane.
   
My experience is that most 9-1-1 fall victims can’t tell you why they fell,
which means they weren’t paying close attention to where they put their
feet. And if they don’t know why they stumbled, it’s difficult to prevent a
recurrence.
Be careful out there. And I’ll see you in New Haven next month!
(Register here for the reunion.)
Best wishes,
Sam Francis
sfrancis@fast.net