Erickson Tribune

Henry Ford

UPDATED: Friday, March 02, 2007

House hazards lead to injury and death

Posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007
 

Experts say over half of all injury related deaths happen in the home

By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), “Fiftyfour percent 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.”

According to United States Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ), who recently co-sponsored a bill which addresses critical public health issue of falls and fall-related injuries among older adults: “Most people don’t realize the significant impact elderly falls have on our society.

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,” he says.

The type of education on elderly falls provided through this bill will help inform family members, health professionals, and others about how to reduce these avoidable and frequently disabling injuries.”

At Henry Ford Village, every home features the safety and convenience of ‘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.

Community is proactive in fall prevention
Although most homes have a washer and dryer, sometimes you need to launder an extra large item. Grocery carts carry your wash, and elevators close to communal laundry rooms make lifting and carting laundry baskets a thing of the past.

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


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Immediate medical attention like never before
One of the many reasons Marie Hess, who moved from Canton, feels so safe and secure at Henry Ford Village is their ability to respond so quickly to medical emergencies. “If you get sick, the staff will be here in less than two minutes,” says Marie. “I don’t have any worries here.”

With a Medical Center staffed with two doctors just a few feet away, community members like Marie can rest assured any medical needs they may have will be taken care of immediately.

Doctors: Snow shoveling triggers heart attacks
Dr. Barry Franklin, director of cardiac rehabilitation at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, knows that each winter, many Michigan seniors are forced to make the decision to shovel, or not to shovel. “In persons normally inactive with known or hidden heart disease, snow shoveling can trigger heart attacks and even sudden cardiac death,” says Dr. Franklin.

At Henry Ford Village, snow shoveling is strictly a spectator sport for community members. “I don’t have to worry about the snow being shoveled here,” says Marie. “It’s all taken care of here.”

Shoveling snow isn’t the only cardiac risk activity traditional homeowner’s face: Mowing the lawn can be equally as hazardous to their health. According to studies conducted by Beaumont Hospital: “Pushing a lawn mower can raise a person’s heart rate to levels equal to, or exceeding, a maximum aerobic workout. That may lead to heart attack or sudden cardiac death in inactive people at risk for heart disease.”

At Henry Ford Village, community members can forgo mowing the lawn and participate in more exciting and vibrant interests, such as yoga, swimming, and ballroom dancing, for example.

Modern construction equals safety
Community members at Henry Ford Village can relax: their new homes are built with the latest in building construction technology, with no structural concerns to worry about.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, “Almost 50% of homes owned by older adults were built prior to 1960, and 6% of these homes had structural problems.”

Marie is confident in her new home. She feels secure knowing a state-of-the-art fire alarm system is in place on campus. “They have smoke alarms that register at the security desks,” says Marie.

Speaking of fire 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.

“I wouldn’t live anyplace else,” says Marie.



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