Patient Falls from Hospital Beds

Patient falls continue to be a serious problem for hospitals. Although hospitals have implemented strategies to reduce and prevent falls, patient falls still make up the largest single category of reported hospital incidents.¹

Patient falls are more common in the elderly, as patients over the age of 65 are 9 times more likely to experience hospital falls than any other age category.² As the United States population continues to age, the number of senior patient falls is expected to rise 78.8% from 2010, without accounting for immigration or extended life expectancies.³ As a result, hospitals should anticipate the growing at-risk population for falls and continue to redefine patient fall prevention strategies.

Among seniors, falls are the leading cause of death due to injury. Falls are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries, and can result in fractures, sprains, or concussions.⁴ Serious head injuries can occur as a result of patient falls, including a subdural hematoma (the bleeding of the brain), which is three times more likely to occur in senior falls.¹ A subdural hematoma can lead to further complications including severe brain herniation, which can be fatal.⁵

Though a low-velocity fall can sound non-threatening to the average person, serious complications are more prone to occur in older patients and can trigger repeat fall events and injuries.¹ Prevention measures should be put in place in order to minimize risk factors and minimize patient injury as a result of falls.

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