Slip-and-fall accidents are a big problem. They account for over 1 million emergency room visits in the United States per year. Although anti-slip Chicago IL can help prevent slips and falls, accidents can still happen just about anywhere to just about anyone.
Serious injuries can result from slip-and-fall accidents. Here are a few of those that occur most frequently.
1. Head Injuries
These can include the relatively mild, such as a concussion, or the potentially severe, such as a skull fracture. A head injury from a slip and fall can also lead to intracranial hemorrhage, which is bleeding inside the skull. If the blood collects, it can form a mass called a hematoma which can put pressure on the brain. Damage to the brain from a head injury may be nonreversible.
2. FOOSH Injuries
FOOSH is an acronym that stands for “fall onto an outstretched hand.” It is a collective term that includes many different types of injuries. Many people instinctively stretch out their hands to catch themselves during a fall. This makes FOOSH injuries more likely. Approximately one-quarter of all the bones in the body are located in the hands. Therefore, a wide number of fractures can result from a FOOSH injury.
3. Spine Injuries
These may include musculoskeletal injuries, such as a vertebral fracture or damage to a disk. However, they can also include damage to the spinal cord itself. Because the spinal cord is part of the central nervous system and plays such as key role in the functioning of the body, an injury to it is an emergency situation, potentially life threatening. Some injuries simply put pressure on the spinal cord, while others may sever it completely. If this occurs, the damage can never be repaired and the patient will be permanently paralyzed. However, it is sometimes possible to correct compression of the spinal cord and reverse the symptoms by relieving the pressure.
Additional injuries that can arise from slip-and-fall accidents include abrasions (scrapes), cuts, and soft tissue injuries.
