Help Prevent Falls This Trauma Awareness Month

At North Oaks Medical Center’s Level II Trauma Center, we assisted approximately 920 trauma patients in 2025. Falls are the number one cause of many serious injuries our trauma team treats.

Since May is National Trauma Awareness Month, we want to share simple steps you can take to prevent falls, especially at home where they are most common.

When Is a Fall Considered a Traumatic Injury?

A traumatic injury is a serious injury that can threaten your life or lead to long‑term problems. When someone falls, they may experience:

• Broken bones in the wrist, arm, ankle, or hip
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that about 37% of people who fall are hurt badly enough to need medical care or skip normal activities for at least one day. Each year, about one million older adults are hospitalized due to falls, and roughly 319,000 of those hospitalizations involve hip fractures.

How You Can Help Prevent Falls

Taking charge of your health is one of the best ways to lower your risk of falling. Certain conditions, such as weak leg muscles, low vitamin D levels, balance problems, vision changes, or medications that make you dizzy, can increase your risk.

You can start with these simple steps:

• Stay active. Exercises that build strength and balance help keep you steady.
• Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can make you feel lightheaded.
• Get your eyes checked once a year. Good vision keeps you safe.
• Review your medications. Talk with your primary care provider (PCP) if any make you feel sleepy, dizzy, or confused.
• Keep your home bright. Good lighting prevents missteps.
• Clear walkways. Remove clutter or cords you could trip over.
• Use handrails on stairs. They add stability.
• Choose sturdy chairs with solid arms. They make sitting and standing safer.
• Wear supportive, non-slip shoes. Avoid going barefoot.
• Check your cane or walker. Replace worn-out rubber tips.

Make Your Home Safer

More than 60% of falls happen at home. Small changes can help you stay independent and safe:

• Add motion-sensor lights or light timers.
• Use night-lights in bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways.
• Keep floors and stairs free of clutter.
• Remove loose rugs or secure them well.
• Store items you use often within easy reach.
• Make sure your bed is easy to get in and out of.
• Add non-slip treads to stairs.
• Place non-slip mats in the bathtub or shower.
• Install grab bars by the toilet and in bathing areas.

North Oaks Trauma Center: Here When You Need Us Most

At North Oaks, you’re supported by a team that is here for you whenever a serious injury occurs.

Our Trauma Center provides immediate, lifesaving care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We are one of only eight Level II Trauma Centers in Louisiana, officially verified by the American College of Surgeons and designated by the Louisiana Department of Health since 2016.

What this means for you is simple. We are always ready to give you fast, lifesaving care when every second matters.

Our in-house trauma and critical care surgeons are here around the clock, supported by specialists in:

• Orthopedics
• Neurosurgery
• Anesthesiology
• Emergency Medicine
• ENT
• Eye Care
• Radiology

Our team combines compassion, excellence, and continuous improvement to deliver the highest level of trauma care. We proudly serve Region 9—Tangipahoa, Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, and Washington parishes—and work closely with the Louisiana Emergency Response Network (LERN) to make sure patients get the right care as quickly as possible.

We Can Work Together to Prevent Falls

National Trauma Awareness Month reminds us that fall prevention is powerful. Whether you’re protecting yourself or helping someone you love, every small step makes a difference.

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Learn more about trauma care at North Oaks here.

Don’t have a North Oaks primary care provider (PCP)? Find one here.