New research by Queensland’s University of Technology has shown the number of people suffering a ladder-related fall has soared nearly 50 per cent in the past decade.
Just published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, the study showed a steep rise from 3,374 hospitalisations in 2002/03 up to 4,945 in 2011/12 – an increase of 47 per cent.
The group most at risk? Men aged over 60.
Associate Professor Kirsten Vallmuur pointed to injuries suffered by veteran television presenter Molly Meldrum, who fell while putting up Christmas decorations almost five years ago when he was 65. He did recover eventually, but it was a long and painful process.
Older men most at risk
“Older men just don’t bounce back as well as younger men,” Prof. Vallmuur says. “They often have other existing health problems, including fragility, eye-sight and balance issues which potentially escalates their risk.”
Of the 226 patients who had died as a result of a fall, 82 per cent were over 60.
For the hospitalisations, two-thirds involved fractures, mainly of the arms, legs, torso and spine, along with head injuries, with cases for those over 60 usually more serious.
“While fewer than 10 per cent of people aged under 60 had a length of stay in excess of one week, more than 20 per cent of those aged over 60 had a length of stay of longer than a week in hospital,” Prof. Vallmuur added.
Worryingly, almost 80 per cent of the falls happened at home – something the researchers blame on the growing popularity of our DIY culture.
Time to just put down the hammer and hire a professional? Or at least wear a helmet – not a cowboy hat.
Product Safety Australia has launched a national education campaign ‘Ladder safety matters’ to encourage older Australian men to stop and think before they use a ladder.
Find out more here.
