Experts say ‘Over half of all injuryrelated deaths happen in the home’

By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), “54% of all injury related deaths happen in the home.” What’s more, the NSC reports that, “In the home there is a fatal injury every 16 minutes, and a disabling injury every 4 seconds.”

United States Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ), recently co-sponsored a bill which addresses critical public health issue of falls and fall-related injuries among older adults: “In reality, these types of accidents are the leading cause of injury deaths among senior citizens and add billions to our nation’s health care costs.”

Proactive in fall prevention
At Fox Run, every home features single-floor living – you never have to ‘take the stairs’. Community members can do everything from banking to shopping to going to the hair salon by taking either a few steps or a short elevator ride outside their homes.

In winter, the grounds staff shovels and de-ices the sidewalks and parking lot, making the campus ‘strollerfriendly’, so you can get out and go about your business without digging out the shovel.

Fox Run denizens can relax: their new homes are built with the latest in building construction technology, with no structural concerns to worry about.

Phyllis Praski, who moved to Fox Run from Warren, is confident in her new home. “They keep everything up to code here,” says Phyllis. “They check everything to make sure it’s in good working order. They have regular staff fire drills.”

Built-in safety
According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), “Almost three-quarters of all fire and burn deaths occur in the home.” In 2005, “396,000 of all structural fires occurred in residential properties,” the National Fire Protection Association reports.