In a third of the surveyed homes with stairs, at least one set of stairs had no handrail or banister, according to the survey, which suggests that private homes and apartments could use more protective devices like stair railings, window locks and grab bars in the bathroom to prevent dangerous falls.

Falls are the second most common cause of death from unintentional injury, after motor vehicle crashes, according to Carol W. Runyan, M.P.H., Ph.D., of the University of North Carolina Injury Prevention Research Center and colleagues. Their findings appear in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

"Clearly, there is ample opportunity to increase the use of protective devices and limit the presence of fall hazards in many U.S. homes," Runyan says.

Runyan and colleagues surveyed 1,003 households nationwide about anti-fall devices in their homes as part of a larger survey on home safety and injuries. Overall, about 7 percent of the households said that someone in or around their home had fallen and required medical attention within the last year.

Falls were almost as common in homes with protective anti-fall devices as those without the devices, but this may have been because falls were more prevalent in homes with younger children and adults age 70 or older. Homes with these vulnerable individuals appeared to be more likely to be aware of their fall risks, installing more bathroom grab bars, anti-skid bath mats and child safety gates than other homes, the researchers say.

Only a quarter of the households reported using grab bars or handrails in bathrooms, while 64 percent said they used bath mats or anti-skid strips in the tub. Households with older adults tended to use more of these devices. Rental households had fewer grab bars or hand
'"/>

Contact: David Williams
david_williamson@unc.edu
Center for the Advancement of Health
4-Jan-2005