Falling down stairs

[DinoLil]

I hope this isn't considered a TAAT but there was a post where the OP had fallen down the stairs recently, I commented that I'd done similar around the same time (again 🙄) and bust my foot.

Well, just as my foot was starting to get better, what did I do? Yep. Fell again 10 days ago. Four stairs around a corner. Broken ribs, sprained knee and ankles, cracked tailbone. Many a bruise. Two huge lumps on my head. Both legs and left arm are very colourful. Can't lift up my right arm because I've pulled something. The pain is really ridiculous.

Anyway, just to say, it is sooooo easy to slip. My stairs are steep and not very 'user friendly'. Even my dog falls up and down them. I've got onto my GP and they've sent a referral to occupational health to check out my house. I own it, it's not rented, but it's clearly not safe for a 54yr old!

I think I'm trying to say, please be careful when you live alone. Try and put safety things in place. I am a complete accident waiting to happen all the time, you'll see from previous posts involving shower curtains and dogs! Ask for a referral, get support, don't wait for Netflix to come and film a climber to ascend and descend your 10 tread stairs, no ropes, solo!

Please, be careful.

OP, are you planning to get banisters on both sides of that lethal stairwell, like tomorrow? What's stopping you....

@Soupdragon3 Those sound like my stairs! I don't have carpet though, I took it up when I moved in because that corner is too narrow to put your foot on and slippy.

I've been 'told off' for going down barefoot but you have a better grip imo than wearing socks or slippers.

And I'm very sorry for your loss. Its a huge adjustment living alone. I kept slipping in my bath that had a shower over and a curtain. The last time, after grabbing on to the curtain, the rail falling onto my head, me falling into the bath, shower curtain wrapped round my head, I thought that was my moment.

Bin the flappy trousers! Elasticated bottoms only. I nearly killed myself wearing a pair of delightfully swishy pjs.

@Willyoushutthefrontdoor That's just terrible. I'm so sorry.

I don't think any of us take as much care as we should.

@GentleSheepOooh, I feel your pain. That's what I did 4wks ago and sprained my foot, was just getting over it but still swollen and bruised and then weeeeeeeeeeeeeee down I go 10 days ago 🙄 I've already done many an injury since I moved in, but twice so soon is a record! I bet your foot still aches? And stairs become so scary?

I know the previous owners of the house and they apparently fell regularly. My neighbour sleeps downstairs because of the stairs.

I'm getting someone in to sort something out with the stairs regarding handrails. The occ health people are going to check everything out as well (as I'm a bit wobbly!).

@Springtimewillbespringing I've lived here just over 7yrs. The previous people were here 20yrs.

So glad to hear you are getting something done about the handrails. Honestly if I didn't have any I would not be going up or down for anything! Solo here too and a golden oldie to boot. I have my phone on a lanyard at all times when moving around the house and of course going up and down the stairs. Just in case 😊

@choccytime GOOD GRIEF!! You were lucky there! I mean, not lucky, but you know what I mean. You must have felt so very unwell after that. I hope someone else does your dusting now??!

@Donotgogentle Don't go down in socks. Or up. Either proper, grippy shoes or barefoot. Slipper socks are useless too.

I can imagine you pulled lots of muscles and were really sore for a while after. And the heart stopping panic when you feel yourself go... its horrid.

Goodbye to your socks! But don't trust any others...

Yep, it's weird, slow motion and full speed at the same time. I did it in front of all the assembled parents at a kids event. I could hear people screaming because they thought I'd died because I was so still and silent, face down.

It's true what I learnt watching casualty. The silent casualty is the one that is most seriously injured.

You just phone them here in Wales. They're very helpful.

I absolutely get you @DinoLil falling is absolutely lethal

I’ve fallen twice last year once uo my steep stairs and once on dodgy pavement. My arm is still in so much pain from the pavement fall but I’m told that’s pretty much it now for the rest of my life

my elderly mother walks looking at her phone, checking out what’s going on around her and not looking down. I can’t get through to her she should be watching where she walks

@OneFootAfterTheOther Erm, yes. The fancy PJs with swishy bottoms may have been instrumental in my early January mishap!

Great advice right there!

But, hey, we look good when the ambulance arrives!

(I tripped over a swishy trouser hem about 3yrs ago popping back from the shops, one broken ankle later...! 😆😁)

We have a dormer bungalow DS sleeps upstairs. There's two straight steps, then two corner treads then straight up. They're so steep. I could get up before my hip issue but always came down on my bottom. It wouldn't be legal today.

@oscilla That is good advice for everyone on their own. After falling at the start of the year, I've made sure my phone is in my pocket but a lanyard is an excellent suggestion. Then you have your hands free. Where did you get yours from?

@MrTiddlesTheCat I suppose the good thing was you had people immediately there to help. How terrifying.

You're right though. You're brain sort of slowly goes 'here we go, this will hurt' and your body goes at 100mph through the air.

And randomly, when you go to a theme park, don't go on rides where no one screams. Same thing.

Lighting is another thing to consider. stairwells are often dark and it's too easy to just gripe your way up and down them when half asleep, rather than putting the light on. So put it on!

And footwear. Slip-on shoes or slippers are far more dangerous than laced shoes which don't slip around on your feet. I suspect that old-lady-style bootee slippers are also safer than lower cut styles. And don't get me started on mules --

Apparently varifocal lenses are also associated with a higher falls risk than monofocal lenses too, but I can't abandon my varifocals!

@Popthebubble-
@justasking111Is absolutely correct. But I'm not in Wales, I'm in the SE. You can self refer, there are forms online you can download and send off.

@justasking111 I had similar in my last house. I sprained my wrist going up! 🤭

My foot's OK now but gosh it was black and purple for ages! I couldn't actually get down the stairs at all, I was stuck upstairs for 2 weeks. Fortunately I don't live alone! Yes stairs were quite terrifying for awhile, but I made the rule I must hold the bannister with one hand no matter what. Got my confidence back but I am quite slow anyway now, as I'm getting on in years! It is quite shocking though how fast one's life could be over. Makes you think.

I'm glad someone is coming in to assess those stairs!

@Mauvish1 YES! Absolutely agree with lighting. My house has voice activated lights so I don't have to stumble about in the dark turning them on or off. Even though my bathroom is downstairs, I ask the lights to go on bedroom, landing, dining room, kitchen, bathroom. When I get back to bed, I just say 'goodnight' and they all turn off.

Also agree with varifocals. I tried them for a week. I fell up the stairs, tripped in the garden...they went back for a refund!

Footwear. I'll be barefoot for now and bugger the chilblains!

I'm off to bed now (wish me luck!). Please everyone be careful. Its just too easy to fall and really hurt yourself or worse.

DSs Dad died 3 years ago after falling down a flight of internal house stairs…handrail came loose. Maintenance is a must.

@DinoLil really sorry to hear this.

I think people find it odd that I step around so carefully, but I've had two injuries, one major, and now I just go carefully, if I miss the bus, I miss the bus. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm in a flat - I do use the stairs to access it but I'm always in outdoor shoes because they're outside my flat if you see what I mean.

However, I do worry about the shower. It's a shower over a bath. I have a super long bath mat. But I'm not really sure what else I can do. I was looking at the glass shower screen the other day and thinking a curtain would be safer.

I should probably get in the habit of taking my phone into the bathroom when I have a shower. When I had the injuries, I was in a different flat and I had a step in shower cubicle - which is so much better.

I do loads of exercise, I'm on another thread where another poster has had an unfortunate fall. I just don't really know what more can be done in terms of prevention.

I go up and down mum's stairs in a rubber soled slipper - but I go carefully. I'm not even 50 yet and I know people think I'm odd but I just explain that I'm not very steady on my feet after my big injury. And I'm not but I really wish I could do something to improve that. I walk everywhere.

@GentleSheep it's amazing how colourful a foot can get! And doesn't it hurt? And the first time you attempt a shoe...ooowwwwwww!!

Yes, it is shocking when you think what could happen. Just popping down the stairs and then... Well.

We'll all take more care now!

Right, I'm strapping on my climbing gear, a parachute, helmet. Crash mat is inflated. I'm going up!

Night all!! And BE CAREFUL! You're all too precious to hurt yourselves.

So sorry for your misfortune OP. Thanks so much for being caring enough to post your advice. It's very much appreciated. I don't have stairs in my house but have grab rails on my shower which I always use. I'm over sixty years old