Assured Health expert offers tip

GURNEE, IL — Throw rugs in the room are a killer, says Assured Healthcare Staffing professional TJ Alexander. While medicine advances technologically on almost every front, the best way to guarantee healthier futures is not scientific. It’s mostly common sense. The National Safety Council has designated June as National Safety Month by reinforcing that you will live longer – and with fewer bruises – by changing the behaviors that influence and cause injuries and deaths. Gurnee-based Assured Healthcare Staffing, a leading provider of professional medical staff, is spreading the word through its occupational health programs and home nursing specialists. TJ Alexander, a veteran paramedic and Assured Healthcare accredited specialist in occupational and home health for older citizens, says that slips, trips and falls are so common we often fail to recognize how damaging they are. And based on his experience as an EMT, he'd rate throw rugs as the No. 1 culprit. “When I did many home inspections for fire departments, it was always the throw rugs that caused the problem,” he said. “Seniors almost always fall because of those. So if you want to keep throw rugs, make sure to add some very good (non-slip) backing. The first throw rug induced fall can be damaging enough, he said, but the second fall is the one that produces broken bones and can send a senior into a rehab facility. Falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional death in homes and communities, resulting in more than 25,000 fatalities in 2009. The risk of falling, and fall-related problems, rises with age and is the greatest “hidden” issue in homes and communities. This year’s national theme, "Safety Starts with Me," focuses on the largely ignored reality of modern life. Falls are one of the leading causes of accidental injuries in the United States, accounting for approximately 8.9 million visits to the emergency room annually. And most important, they are preventable with attention to your surroundings. Adults 55 and older are more prone to becoming victims of falls, and the injuries can diminish the ability to lead active, independent lives. The number of fall deaths among those 65 and older is four times the number of fall deaths among all other age groups. Take the time to remove slip, trip and fall hazards to keep your family safe. Alexander teaches five tips to make your environment safer for your family and coworkers: 1: Secure electrical and phone cords out of traffic areas. “I’ve seen examples of people still using electrical outlets even after they’ve been burned out,” Alexander said. “Or multiple cords on an outlet with no power surge protector.” 2: Remove small throw rugs or use non-skid mats to keep them from slipping. 3: Remove tripping hazards (paper, shoes, toys, boxes) from stairs and walkways. Inventory your home or business. You will see the safety issues by spending time seeking them out. 4: Never stand on a chair table or other surface on wheels. 5: Clean up spills immediately. When they linger, you’ll forget them until your foot finds the surface and then you go flying. Alexander is a member of the Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA), a national organization that educates professionals to work more effectively with their senior clients. Alexander’s consultation can help “de-bug” your home or business for its unsafe traps. Give Assured Healthcare a call at 847-775-7445 in Illinois or 608-237-1421 in Wisconsin or visit http://www.assuredhealthcare.com for more information. About Assured Healthcare Staffing Assured Healthcare of Gurnee, Ill., was founded in CEO Chris Hammerlund in 2007. Its staff of 70 professional nurses, technicians and health care providers serve all of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin in home, business, laboratory and institutional settings. Assured is a member of the National Private Duty Association and does $2.5 million in annual sales. Hammerlund is a veteran nurse and leading entrepreneur.