Traumatism poses a serious threat to the health and life of adults and children.Every year, millions of people on the planet due to personal carelessness and negligence or by someone’s criminal negligence and irresponsibility are injured, become disabled, and lose their lives.
In recent decades in developed countries, including in Belarus, in connection with an increase in life expectancy and rapid growth of elderly people, injuries have also increased among this category of population.
The most characteristic types of injuries in the elderly, the reasons for their occurrence
World statistics of injury to elderly people identify their following types:
- falls-Up to 60% of the elderly older than 65 years old get to the hospital because of them. Older women fall and get injuries more often than men.
- Fractures-have 15-20% of the victims of the elderly.
- Burns and frostbite- Up to 60% receive people of disabled age.
- Injuries,obtained by road, railway and other accidents.
- 20-30% diefrom various complications obtained as a result of injuries.
- 40% after dischargeLose independence and become addicted to others.
The causes of injuries in older people can conditionally be divided into internal and external.
- Internal causes-Relatedwith age-related changes in the musculoskeletal system, organ of vision and cardiovascular system.
- External causes- are associated with the wrong organization of safe movement; low safety of housing; Inexplicable shoes, poor vision, lack of auxiliary vehicles (canes, walkers), etc.
- In the elderly and senile age there are problems with gait against the background of neurological and vascular diseases, pathologies of the musculoskeletal system: muscle atrophy, pain and loss of flexibility of the joints, etc.
- Weather factors:The slippery passing part of the street in winter, or its uneven surface, poor illumination, etc..
- Reception of many medicinalParticularly several drugs at the same time, changes the state of vascular tone, often leads to a fall.
- The risk of falling is great in people,which are few (no more4 hoursper day) are in an upright position, as well as those who are inhibited and depressed, cannot stand up from a chair without the help of hands.
- Elderly, suffering from syncopal states(Short -term disconnections of consciousness) require outside help and supervision when going out and especially in transport.
Where most often the fall and the most characteristic types of injuries occur
- In 50% of cases of falling, houses occur,Especially often in the bathroom and bedroom. Many patients, about 80%, fall without witnesses, which deprives them of quick help.
- Outside of the house Falls most often occur on slippery sidewalks, wet asphalt, when crossing the sidewalk through the curb.The most common cause of death of elderly and elderly patients from the injury resulting from the fall is a fracture of the neck of the thigh.
- A large share of injuries After falling in the elderly, the wrist bones fall on fractures.The fusion process takes a lot of time, lasts from 6 weeks to 3-6 months and significantly limits a person’s ability to self-service.
Medical and socio-psychological consequences from injuries
Treatment of the consequences of serious injuries obtained under various circumstances is expensive both the patient and his family.A person has to experience a psychic trauma: to re -gain confidence in his physical strength, to overcome the fear of repeated falls. The consequences of the fracture are often a loss of independence, the need to hire a nurse, ask for the help of relatives, friends. The restriction of the ability to move makes the recovering for a long time lying, which adversely affects his well-being: constipation arises, undergraduates, due to age-related disturbances in thermoregulation-hypothermia and pneumonia. Such patients often have depression, thoughts about suicide, etc.
In such a period, attention is especially important, concern for the affected by his relatives and friends.
Measures for the prevention of injuries
A decrease in injuries in elderly people is possible only if the state is concerned not only to the state about this category of the population, but also to the careful attitude of the citizens themselves to their health and safety.
In the capital, there is a city complex program "Prevention of injuries in Minsk",Adopted by the Minsk City Executive Committee.It is provided:
- Consolidation of actionseducational authorities, law and order, public public in order to prevent and reduce all types of injuries;
- The complex is plannedpractical measures of organizational, methodological, educational and explanatory orientation with various categories of the populationincluding with older people;
- The order is determinedensuring the safety of citizens during social and cultural mass events, in recreation areas, in slippery areas of sidewalks and roads at oloreza; examination of houses of multi -storey buildings; The establishment of various signs warning about danger, etc.
- It is importantDispensary observation of people of advanced age, treatment of cardiovascular and other diseases, teaching a culture of life, behavior in transport and on the road, involvement in physical therapeutic gymnastics.
Recommendations for the elderly on the prevention of injuries
Prevention of injuries, falls, injuries in old age largely depends on the person himself, his lifestyle, behavior and attention.In this regard, we recommend:
- Timely treatmentCardiovascular diseases, including heart arrhythmias, sharp fluctuations in pressure, arthrosis, osteoporosis, etc.
- Home executionExercises on the appointment of a doctor for training balance and muscles, as well as daily walking.
- Residential supportThe optimum temperature, since its significant differences worsen the blood supply to the brain, coordination of movements.
- Regular walks, swimming, mild gymnastics help maintain vigor and mobility.
- UndesirableTo leave the house in the dark, in very cold weather, when it is snowing and slippery. In winter, it is advisable to use a stick and helping others to prevent the fall during walks, especially when crossing streets and on the stairs.
- When late homeIt is advisable to accompany friends or friends, choosing a route in crowded and lit places.
- Periodically check vision and hearing, and if necessary, order stronger glasses and a hearing aid.
- It is important to choose the right shoes.It should be free, but not too large, soft and with a corrugated sole (you can stick a patch). On a slippery floor, it is better to walk in soft stockings. It is necessary to bypass moist places in the room and on the street.
- An important role is played by the furniture in the roomWhere the elderly man lives. So, the bed on which he sleeps should be at least sixty centimeters. The mattress is elastic, the pillows are small, the blanket is warm, but light. When getting out of bed, sharp movements must be avoided. The chairs should be shallow, soft. The backs of the seats are tall so that there is support for the head. It is recommended to glue the sharp corners of the furniture with special soft overlays.
- If an elderly person got to the hospital(a new room for him means a new unfamiliar environment), it must be familiarized with the location of the chamber, the procedural office, toilet, and dining room.
- Injury can often be obtained during washing, bathingTherefore, relatives or maintenance personnel should be recruited in the bathroom. The bathroom must have handrails, support, as well as special benches that are attached to the edge of the bathroom. It is advisable for people in age to take a shower, not a bath. The water temperature should be no higher than forty degrees. An elderly person, a water jet, can provoke a stroke directed to the head - you need to remember this. For convenient and safe use of soap, make a hole in it and stretch the lace into it. At the end of washing in the bathroom, you need to remove the cork before getting out of it (so as not to bend). The detergents must be a supervision. The bathroom from the inside should not be closed. There must be a rubber rug on the floor.
- It is necessary to provide good lighting in the room. At night, special flashlights should be included.
- The railing on the stairs(in the house or in the country) should be on both sides. Rising and going down, both railing, handrails along the walls must be used. Carpet and paths must be well attached to the floor. It is advisable to cover the parquet floor with paths.
Older people should always remember that at their age one should calculate their strength and capabilities of the body. Proceeds to predict and anticipate traumatic consequences in a particular situation and thereby avoid injuries and injuries.
Author:
Udot P.S. - Deputy chief physician for medical part GSSSMP
