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Every year, thousands of older adults are injured
in home accidents that could have been prevented. Many
injuries could have been prevented if environmental
conditions had been improved or different.
Environmental risk factors are conditions that increase
the likelihood of an injury or illness occurring. Lighting,
air quality, hot and cold temperatures, noise and vibration
are environmental risk factors. Lack of equipment, such
as smoke detectors, is an environmental risk factor.
Environmental risk factors are conditions that increase
the likelihood of an injury or illness occurring.
The environment can be physical, such as the interior
features of a house including design, lighting. It can
be non visible such as noise, ventilation, air quality,
hot and cold temperatures.
Wobbly stairs, holes on floor surfaces, broken rails
or equipment, etc., are examples of physical environmental
risk factors. Another example of an environmental risk
factor is lack of equipment, such as NOT having a smoke
detector on each floor of your home. This is something
every person should have in the home.
Smoking in home is an environmental risk factor
for everyone ( the smoker and people who live in
the home of the smoker are exposed to the toxic chemicals
from cigarettes) Curtains blowing in the breeze above
a hot stove, could cause a fire, causing an environmental
hazard.
If your air quality is unhealthy, you have smells or
odors in your home, such as mold or mildew smells, or
allergens such as pet dander, dust, smoke, you are increasing
your potential health and safety risks. If noise levels
are irritating, you increase your health and safety
risks at home.
There are other environmental risk factors that are
determined by the person, For instance, if you have
a decline in your vision, poorly lit or dim areas in
your home could become a serious environmental risk
hazard. If you have walking or balance difficulties,
an uneven surface or a small pet could be a serious
hazard. The design itself could prevent abilities or
cause injuries.
How can environmental risk factors affect safety
in the home?
For instance, poor lighting in a home can cause falls.
Noise can affect a person's ability to concentrate or
prevent hearing a warning sign. Sustained temperatures
that are too hot can cause dehydration, fatigue, loss
of strength, and death. Sustained cold temperatures
can cause stiffness, decreased sensitivity, changes
in hand coordination, grip strength and blood flow,
and can ultimately lead to death. Poor air quality can
cause or increase chronic health conditions such as
respiratory distress, and asthma. Holes in the floor
surface can cause tripping.
How can environmental risk factors be controlled?
You first have to identify them. You have to know what
is an environmental risk factor, and what factors influence
your life.
What is the first step to reduce any environmental
risk factors in my home?
First, consider your own personal factors. Become self
aware, knowledgeable about your capabilities and your
difficulties. Consider your health and life factors,
your skills and abilities in daily life, the actions
that you typically use.
What do I do after considering my own personal factors?
Carefully look at your surrounding. Look at how you
have things organized, where objects are placed. Consider
what actions you take to get a task done in your home.
Could your actions cause an accident or injury? Consider
your lighting, air quality, noise level. Look at what
could be a threat to your health or your safety. What
features in your home make your life more difficult?
Is there any thing in your home that makes you feel
uncomfortable? If you feel uncomfortable, or a task
is difficult to do, you have a potential risk factor.
What actions can I take to reduce risks?
You can reduce your risks by reducing the amount of
time you are exposed to such conditions, the frequency
that you are exposed or the magnitude of your exposure.
If you need help, consider an in home safety assessment.
Recognize Risk Factors to Prevent Personal Injury
This basic one page handout identifies risk factors,
explains what part of the anatomy risk factors can harm,
and identifies a few ergonomic risk factors.
See
Form
How to Reduce Your Risk of Falling
This resource is easy to read, and gives tips from
what to do when you wake up in the morning, to how to
lift safely, what to do to eliminate hazards and ideas
for stair safety.
See Article
Tips to Reduce Home and On the Road Safety Risks
This resource lists
things you can do to reduce or eliminate your health or
safety risks at home or on the road.
See
Article
If additional help is needed, consider ordering the SAFESM.
The SAFESM is a self appraisal activity that
identifies potential risks, hazards and unsafe actions
that could threaten health, safety or independent living.
If you would like more information
call SAFE Aging:
Toll Free 1-866-SAFE AGE (1-866-723-3243)
or contact
info@safeaging.com
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