So, the leaves have all changed colors and fallen, the sun is sinking sooner, and the temperatures are getting colder. Winter is returning in its own inevitable way. That means holidays are incoming, a New Year with a fresh start, beautiful snow and all of the other treats winter brings our way. However, with the changing season comes a dangerous reality, the increased chance of a slip. trip, or fall. Can a railing help prevent one of these pesky accidents?
How often do Slips, Trips, and Falls actually happen?
First, we need to define what a slip, trip, or fall is. According to the CDC you can slip when you lose your footing, you can trip when you catch your foot on or in something, and you fall when you come down suddenly*. Each of these types of incidents can have a wide range of outcome depending on age, location, and sometimes just pure luck. In the worst of circumstances, serious injuries like broken bones can occur, even death if a head strikes a hard surface. So how often do these things actually happen? According to the National Safety Council and Bureau of Labor Statistics over 25,000 slip, trip, and fall accidents happen DAILY in the United States**. That’s a slip, trip, or fall roughly every 3.5 seconds, and that only encompasses recorded incidences. We have to assume there are countless other incidents that result in bruises, cuts, or other inconvenient injuries. The chances of trips, slips, and falls increase greatly in the winter months, as snow/ice covers walkways, a lack of sunlight creates low visibility, and (especially at holiday time) people are out and about constantly.
Slips trips and falls happen more than one would expect
Railing to the Rescue
With all of these slip, trip, and falls happening, how can railing coming to the rescue? Thankfully, railing provides a variety of safety features to combat the dangerous trifecta.
Imagine walking up a ramp at night and suddenly you slip on some ice! Luckily, you’ve been holding onto a nice piece of handrail that has prevented you from falling. Fortunately, public locations are subject to a variety of code restrictions, meaning in most scenarios there should be something near to break your fall. Many residential locations also will feature some sort of graspable surface.
As the weather starts to turn, be sure to be aware of your surroundings and use the resources available, railing included, to keep yourself upright and safe!
Railing is designed to help prevent slips, trips, and falls
Why it Matters
As the chart from the Bureau of labor statistics shows, slips, trips, and falls are not only a large part of accidents, but they are also the 2nd leading cause of injury. So having a railing system in place not only reduce a potentially embarrassing fall, but also a nasty bump or bruise.
* Source: CDC
