Grey Bruce has a 72% higher rate of emergency room visits due to falls compared to the Ontario average.
Between 2012 and 2014, Grey Bruce saw an average of between two and three fall-related hospitalizations per day.
The Grey Bruce Health Unit says falls and fall-related injuries cost the province $2.8-million a year.
The Grey Bruce Health Unit is creating a aall to action toolkit for various sectors and stakeholders that highlights their role in preventing falls. It contains a self-assessment checklist to evaluate current factors that influence falls, like biological, socioeconomic, behavioural, and environmental factors.
The health unit hopes to build effective fall prevention initiatives.
There are ten areas the health unit feels require action; including health equity, surveillance and data, risk-taking, housing, environment, alcohol and medications, support, education and awareness.
