Safety

Many types of accidents occur in the home and elsewhere because of a lack of safety. Many hospital beds are filled with patients who fell, burned, cut, poisoned or injured themselves as a result of unsafe practices. In many cases these accidents could have been avoided if the persons were aware of and implemented proper safety practices. Of significant concern is the fact that accidents also occur in hospitals and nursing homes. Physiotherapists, because of the mandates of their profession, are trained in educating patients in safety and giving the tools necessary to live a safe life.

Elderly people who suffer from vertigo (dizziness) are especially prone to slip and fall accidents. In the UK nearly a million people over the age of 75 fell in the home. This is an alarming statistic, since many fall victims sustain broken bones which may lead to permanent disability or even death. Many times when these people get to the emergency room, they cannot recall what caused them to fall.

Burns are another reason for hospitalisation. This type of accident is not limited to the elderly. Children, young adults and the middle aged are all vulnerable. Burns, if not treated quickly may lead to Poisoning is sometimes the result of unsafe practices. Storing insecticides and other hazardous materials among foodstuff is a prescription for disaster. The elderly and the visually impaired are likely victims of poisoning. Taking the wrong medication or unintentional overdosing by mentally impaired and the elderly is quite common.

Sport and leisure activities carry their own risks of accidents. Swimming, biking, horseback riding, skiing, football and every other sport sometimes result in accidents. Many professional athletes have been disabled while playing the sport they love. One tragic example is Christopher Reeves who sustained a fall while horseback riding which led to spinal cord injury from which he never recovered.

The workplace is a very common site for accidents and injury. Falls, cuts, back and neck injury from improper lifting and chemical burns are some occurrences. We visit work environments to observe your job duties and analyse the your capabilities in relation to the demands of their job. We then make adjustments and recommendations to make the work environment safer and more productive.