Fall Prevention Week – Working together to reduce falls

Falls are the San Rafael Fire Department's number-one call for service. Because falls can result in serious injuries and may become a recurring concern, we are working with two nursing students from Dominican University of California to help prevent future falls and improve the safety of community members.

The nursing students, who are in their final year of the nursing program, will review recent fire department incident reports involving falls and work with the patients who experienced them. The students will visit patients in their homes to assess potential fall risks and provide information and resources to help reduce the likelihood of future falls.

This effort complements community-wide fall prevention initiatives, including Vivalon's free four-day Falls Prevention Awareness Week, held September 22-25. The program brought together local firefighters, epidemiologists, nurses, and physicians at Vivalon's Healthy Aging Campus to share information and strategies for preventing falls and maintaining independence as we age.

San Rafael Fire Department Battalion Chief Jason Hatfield provided a first-responder perspective on what happens when a fall results in a 911 call, including the role firefighters play in assessing and assisting patients and identifying opportunities to help prevent future incidents.