Group Says Falls Make Up Majority of 9-1-1 Calls in Many Wash. Districts

Oct. 22--With senior citizen falls making up a majority of Emergency Medical Service calls for many agencies, Lewis County Fire District 15 in Winlock is working to get those call numbers down.

On Wednesday, responders with the fire district spoke to Winlock-area seniors about fall prevention and plan to continue working with them in the future.

Lt. Patrick Jacobson, a firefighter and EMT with Winlock, said the district talked to about 10 seniors at the Olequa Senior Center in Winlock about keeping safe.

Jacobson said they discussed keeping walkways clear and rugs secure, among other things.

He said while many people have a general idea about fall prevention, many need education and help to mitigate their risk of falling.

The district did the fall prevention event as part of the Stay Active and Independent for Life or SAIL program at the senior center.

Lindsay Giberson, certified SAIL instructor, said SAIL is a senior citizen exercise program that targets balance and weight training to help reduce falls.

While the program is designed to help reduce falls, the instructors don't really talk about falls; it's more about being active.

She said about 14 Winlock-area seniors ranging in age from 54 to 84 of all fitness levels participate regularly in the three-day a week program.

"We have fun, we laugh, we talk, we're all just a big group of friends," Giberson said.

SAIL started in Winlock just over one year ago and is funded through Centralia College and benefits the senior center as a fundraiser.

"We were very impressed with how the class went," Jacobson said.

Senior citizens can contact the fire district at (360) 785-4221 if they have questions about how to get a handrail or ramp installed on their home and eventually set up a home safety visit.

Jacobson said the district is still in the process of putting the safety visit program together, where a member of the district could visit a senior's home and recommend any changes to help prevent falls.

Some of the fall prevention work the district is doing is made possible by a grant through the West Region Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care Council.

Copyright 2015 - The Chronicle, Centralia, Wash.