Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults aged 65 and older in the United States.Safety Tip Tuesday: Fall Prevention
Falls can happen to anyone, but they are especially dangerous for older adults and can result in serious injuries, loss of independence, and/or a long recovery. The good news is that many falls can be prevented with a few simple changes at home and in daily routines.
Look around your home for common trip hazards. Keep walkways, stairs, and doorways free of cords, clutter, pet toys, and loose items. Make sure there is good lighting throughout your home, especially in hallways, stairways, bathrooms, and near entryways. Turn on lights before walking through a dark room and consider using nightlights in bedrooms and bathrooms.
Loose rugs, uneven flooring, wet surfaces, and unstable furniture can all contribute to falls. Use non-slip mats in the bathroom and kitchen, secure rugs with backing or tape, and clean up spills promptly. Wear supportive shoes with non-slip soles instead of socks or loose slippers when walking around the house.
Handrails on both sides of stairs and grab bars near toilets and in showers can provide important support. Keep frequently used items within easy reach so you do not need to climb on chairs, stools, or countertops. Changes in medications can also affect balance, if you feel dizzy, weak, unsteady, or have changes in your vision, talk with your healthcare provider.
A quick home safety check today could prevent a serious fall tomorrow.
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CALL 911?
Calling 911 activates an emergency response.
Based on the situation, dispatchers may send firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement, or multiple emergency units to your location. These responders arrive with specialized equipment and advanced medical capabilities for life-threatening emergencies.
When emergency crews are assisting one patient, they may be unavailable to respond to another emergency in the community. For this reason, 911 should be used when immediate medical care, rescue, or intervention may save a life or prevent serious injury.
This is why 911 exists; for emergencies where immediate medical care or rescue can save a life or prevent serious injury.
If you're experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. Dispatchers will assess the situation and guide you through the next steps.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
More units - more resources available for emergencies at any given time.
This month the Sequim area will see an increase in staffed firefighter response units. In the past, only 4 units were available most days, and the increase in simultaneous calls for service has often depleted that number - meaning there were no units left to respond to an emergency, risking significant response delays.
Voluntary overtime will be offered every shift in an attempt to increase the number of staffed units up to 6 by increasing the daily minimum staffing from 10 to 12 personnel.
This is a win for the community we serve. You deserve to have firefighters there when it matters most.
It will also be a challenge for us. We’ve already been working hard and this will be an added workload for many.
Why overtime? Because recent hiring cannot keep up with resignations/retirements and the overall number of career firefighters remains largely the same this year as call volume continues to increase.
Are property owners getting a good return on their fire department taxes? Yes. The departments in this region run more calls per firefighter than other departments in the state of Washington. That’s right, more calls per firefighter than busy cities like Seattle, Tacoma, or Everett.
Are your firefighters running so many calls because of crime and drug overdoses? No. Most calls that we respond to are due to general illness and declining health. For example, falls and lift-assists are now a large part of what your fire department responds to.
Want to help your local firefighters be successful, ready, well trained, and available for emergencies? Stay healthy, stay active, and talk to your doctor and nurses about illness and health concerns before there's a need for 911.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
WOULD YOU CALL 911?
A family member suddenly can't smile evenly. One arm feels weak, and their words don't make sense. Would you call 911?
Yes! Absolutely!
These are classic warning signs of a possible stroke, and every minute matters.
Now imagine someone has had mild back pain for several months that hasn't suddenly changed.
While that person should absolutely seek medical care, it may not require an emergency ambulance response. Seeing a primary care doctor or going to the walk-in clinic will get this patient the care they need, and often much faster.
Knowing the difference between emergent and non-emergent medical conditions helps ensure emergency crews are available for life-threatening situations while everyone receives the care they need.
Remember: Just because you show up to the hospital in an ambulance, this does not ensure you will be seen faster at the hospital. The hospital also triages patients brought in by ambulance and sees the most critical patients first. Non-critical patients may be placed in the waiting room upon arrival, even if arriving via ambulance.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, always call 911.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Why do fire engines cost over $1,000,000 each and not meet expectations?
Dozens of cities and counties sue fire truck makers over soaring costs, delivery delays • Stateline
stateline.org
In the summer of 2023, a third of the fire engines owned by the fire department in Kansas City, Kansas, were unusable. Five of 15 pumper trucks were out of commission, and the department was waiting o...3 CommentsComment on Facebook
What an entrance 😎. Even firefighters have people to look up to. The 2026 Unity of Effort started off a bang. Unity of Effort #UnityOfEffort
41 CommentsComment on Facebook
