Hi
    Falling can be very dangerous. One has o anticipate and protect
themselves fom having dangerous falls. A PD friend of mine recenly had a
fall and goot his brain  damaged and had a stroke. He died with in a few
days.
    Raj
********
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mary Ann Ryan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 11:35 AM
Subject: Re: the art of falling


> > The 7 or 8 falls  I've had up till now I felt I could account for, not
> > paying attention, etc., but this was completely unexpected and I've
always
> > felt fairly "safe" in the walker.  is this just how it works?  You
> > suddenly lose your balance?
>
>
> Ray, Jamie falls all of the time - some weeks he might fall once a day.  I
> try to emphasize that he shouldn't try to walk unless I am standing behind
> him with the wheelchair, but you don't have that option.
>
> Jamie can't use a walker - he *picks it up* and walks with it, which is
> extremely dangerous.  He has learned when he falls to protect his head
> because head injuries cause the worst out-comes.  He has taught himself to
> drop whatever he is holding and immediately curl his body while he raises
> his hands to cover his head.  Curling prevents neck injuries.
>
> He weighs 220 so he also has some extra padding.  Luckily, the only thing
he
> has broken has been a couple of toes, his little finger and a rib.  He has
> bruises on his right hip and bottom, but he hasn't broken his hips or legs
> (thank God).  The bathroom is the scariest of places because of all of the
> hard surfaces that can cause terrible injury - which is why we are
building
> an accessible bathroom.
>
> Hope that this helps.
> ---------------
> Mary Ann (CG Jamie 65/25)
>
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