Winter weather increases fall risk
With the official arrival of winter also comes the unfortunate possibility of falls on slick, ice-covered surfaces. Such falls can cause costly injury to bones and joints and far-reaching impact as family and work responsibilities are often challenged during recovery. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of five falls results in a serious injury, such as a broken bone or head injury. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20,460 workplace injuries in 2017 (the last year of statistics available) involved ice, sleet or snow. And according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in 2023, Missourians fall injuries are 31 percent higher than the national average. And slips and falls are now the No. 1 cause of death for those aged 65 and older.
