Your Health Matters

You've all had those times when you are up to your neck in alligators and then of course you should have remembered to drain the swamp! Then the storms come! I'm no exception! And, it was about this time that I received a call from my sixteen year old grandson (who seldom calls me): "Grandma 'Lana Georgia (my name), this is a severely serious call!" (You can imagine what jumped into my mind!) He kept repeating this! "Alex, what has happened?" Finally he said, "Mama has done something severely serious to her ankle and leg, and I've taken a picture of it! The doctor says you've got to come down here right away, she's going to need surgery!" (Drop everything and leave… the alligators!)

I talked with someone in charge briefly to explain that I was hours away (12 to 14 by the time I could arrive). They would need to transfer her by ambulance to a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, and locate a good orthopedic surgeon. "I will be down before noon the next day and I can be reached at this number anytime!" (This is the daughter whose husband died suddenly of a heart attack Christmas a year ago.) Now wouldn't you know this was during spring break and some of her friends were hard to locate- but thank goodness for her close friend, Terry- who doesn't get a regular spring break at school where they work together! She has taken my place as mother on several occasions!

This incident has prompted me to write about home accidents. Although there is no place like home- home safety is a health issue that people tend to forget about. Yet accidents at home rank among the leading causes of injury and death in the United States- Eight million Americans each year become injured in home accidents and 30,000 additional Americans die from home accidents! The most common home safety issues stem from electrical, falls, fires, home improvement injuries, and stairway accidents. Even those who survive a home accident often find their lives changed dramatically, sometimes losing their independence. Fortunately, it is possible to prevent most home injuries by understanding how they happen and taking steps to avoid them.

Marian (daughter) had been cleaning and mopping the floor in the kitchen and it was drying and she was getting ready to shower for she had an appointment (nails and hair) when she remembered something to finish in the kitchen- in her socks and robe she hurried on laminated flooring and suddenly went flying into the back door and wall. ("Mama, it happened in a split second!" They all do!) Studies have shown that the velocity of a foot hitting a stationary object like a door or a bed is about 60 miles an hour- just walking- running or sliding up to 100 mph. She received a dislocated ankle from the foot and four separate breaks- she has eight screws and one long one going up the ankle and leg and a 4 to 5 inch plate on the inner side of her ankle. She will not be able to put weight on her foot for 3 to 6 months- depending- it is her right foot and she will not be able to drive for at least 6 months- depending! This is only half of it- the constant elevation of the leg, the Heparin shots three times daily, the difficulty of showering and hair shampooing- she figured out a way to do this! Oh, how quick your life style can change!

Lesson #one: Socks can be slippery and allow you to lose your balance which could result in a nasty fall. I've known several folks that have fallen while wearing socks and have broken their wrist, elbow or shoulder- let alone ankles and toes. Check your slippers to see if they have good traction.

Don't run electrical or extension cords across an area with high foot traffic because they are easy to trip over. If handrails or banisters are not present on all stairways, install them. Smooth stairs are made much safer with traction grips. Avoid using stairs in sock feet- even if it has carpet- it can be slippery.

Next week I will cover other areas of home safety of things you don't even think can happen! Remember don't run around in your stocking or sock feet! (Still up to my neck… in alligators!)

Claudia Parks, RN, is a former doctor's office and emergency room nurse and retired as an educator from Fulton County Schools. She writes Your Health Matters as a public service; the information here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your physician. Claudia and her husband make their home in the beautiful north Georgia Mountains, near Blairsville. Claudia can be reached at yhm@windstream.net