National Falls Prevention Day-September 22, 2010

September heralds the arrival of Autumn. Back to school, cooler temperatures, shorter days. When we "fall back" in time, we remember to change the batteries in our smoke detector. The first official day of Fall has now become synonymous with "Falls Prevention Day" as well.

Falls Prevention Day was established to heighten the awareness of dangers in the home that can lead to precarious footing and dangerous falls. The 2009 press release highlights the importance of home safety and is worth a read-through.

Good lighting is essential in home safety. In addition to providing visual orientation, you need light to establish depth perception which correlates directly with good balance. Without good balance, it can be difficult or impossible to safely stand or walk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2007, "1.9 million fall-related injuries were treated in hospital emergency departments and about 492,000 of those treated were subsequently hospitalized." As the American population ages, we find that the key to well-being is prevention. Wireless Environment promotes its Mr Beams products as effective lighting solutions for places where hardwired products are impractical, impossible or cost-prohibitive. Seniors particularly are subject to limitations when it comes to "fall-proofing" their homes. Fixed incomes, physical constraints, and department store locations may put home improvement items out of reach for many folks. Mr Beams lights can be purchased online or over the phone and installed without any professional assistance. Most products, like the Stick Anywhere Night Lights, adhere effectively to any surface with a simple doublestick (Mr Beams includes all mounting hardware and instructions with each product).

The Home Safety Council, the only national nonprofit committed to home safety, offers the following precautions to minimize falls in the home:

--Have handrails on both sides of stairs and steps and make sure that the handrails go from top to bottom; not just halfway.

--Lots of lights at the top and bottom of the stairs. Mr Beams provides several solutions that will help you to create the appropriate amount of lighting where you need it. The Step Light offers a low-glow feature which provides you with a soft and continuous light until motion is detected at which point the brightness of the light intensifies. Other lighting options include the Stick Anywhere Night Light which is perfect for trips to the bathroom, or consider the Anywhere Ceiling Light for walks to the kitchen or anywhere a brighter light might be desired.

--Tape small rugs to the floor or avoid throw rugs altogether. There are convenient rubber mats that can be cut to a rug form and simply lay beneath the rug to prevent movement.

--Nightlights, such as the Stick Anywhere Night Light, should be prevalent in the bedroom, hall, and bathroom. The Mr Beams Night Lights are sold in packages of three which gives you affordable flexibility in placing light along any well-traveled path in your home.

We will work hard to bring additional safety tips, not just lighting tips, to you in anticipation of National Falls Prevention Day. If you have a story to share or if you can provide us with ideas on how to make your home fall-free, we would love to hear from you and allow you to share your thoughts here on this blog. Just write to info@mrbeams.com.