As this country ages, the number of people 65 and older increases. These numbers also correlate to the number of seniors who require emergency care or hospitalization due to severe injuries. The leading causes of nonfatal injuries have been identified and the good news is: when seniors seek out immediate help there is a likely chance they will return to their normal, independent lifestyle.

The two leading causes of nonfatal injuries are unintentional falls and motor vehicle collisions. Unfortunately, falls are also the leading cause of death, which is caused by an alarming fact that a small number of seniors seek out professional help when injured this way. The Centers for Disease, Control, and Prevention state that 1 in 3 seniors will experience an injury via an unintentional fall, but less than half will talk to their healthcare provider about it.

In 2010, 2.3 million nonfatal fall injuries of seniors were treated in emergency rooms. Out of those patients, over 600,000 had to be hospitalized. Of the injuries treated, 20-30% was for moderate to severe injuries such as lacerations, hip fractures, or head traumas. Falls are the leading cause of traumatic head injuries and most fractures in seniors. The most common fractures are to the hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, and hand.

When a senior is treated in an emergency room after a fall, it is protocol for doctors to check for fractures and intracranial hemorrhages. Although age of the person doesn’t necessarily dictate the severity of an injury (or potential for mortality), seniors are more likely to have complications during their treatment. One statistic that stands out is women are three times more likely to suffer hip fractures than men.

The focus is now on reducing the likelihood of falls among seniors. One clear action that can serve seniors well is exercise. Exercises that focus on leg strength and balance are very important for older adults. As well, a review of medications used should be reviewed with a doctor or pharmacist to identify odd side effects that might cause dizziness. Continuous care for eyes, at least one visit to the doctor per year, will ensure maximum vision. Additionally, seniors should wear sensible shoes, remove hazards in the house that could cause a fall, maintain a bright living space and install railings or grab bars in the bathroom, and on both sides of stairs.

Injuries are a serious problem among seniors. With the right amount of prevention, a lot of these injuries can be avoided. For those seniors that do experience a fall, they shouldn’t underestimate the severity of it. If a senior has experienced a fall, they should contact an emergency room professional immediately to ensure that their accident won’t lead to something more serious.