Ladder-Related Injuries are Climbing

A recent study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that ladder-related injuries have steadily increased by approximately 27 percent per 100,000 people over 1990 figures. Nearly 162,000 were treated in emergency rooms for ladder-related injuries in 2005, with 10 percent of those requiring hospitalization.

What can YOU do to prevent a trip to the emergency room? There are simple steps to avoid ladder-related injury:

Know what you’re doing. Most people realize that ladders must be on level ground, that someone should be around to keep it steady, and that one shouldn’t reach too far above or to the sides of the ladder. Yet in the rush to finish a project, many people feel they can occasionally ignore these rules… and they occasionally end up in the emergency room.

Know your environment. Ladders and wet weather can be a dangerous mix, and soft ground, slippery surfaces and slick ladder steps required added caution, whether you’re on a three-step ladder or an extension ladder. When working on or near electrical work, never use a metal ladder – use only a wooden or fiberglass ladder (Remember: ANY ladder can conduct electricity when wet.)

Know your limitations. Professional painters and carpenters use ladders every day; you might only use a ladder two or three times a year. Lack of familiarity is a major cause of personal injury and for senior citizens, it’s even riskier – seniors who are less active may also be less agile or have balance problems, factors which also contribute to falls.

If you experience a ladder-related injury, immediately contact your doctor or visit the nearest emergency room.

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