Falls
HARM
30% of the 434 deaths from injuries across Auckland, and 46% of 16,222 injury hospitalisations are due to falls. Those aged over 65 years are substantially impacted by deaths and injuries from falls.
The Issue
Falling over is the most common way of injuring yourself in New Zealand. Injuries from falling represent 39% of all ACC claims and cost $1.1 billion each year.
For older people as well as being the most common cause of injury, falls are potentially life threatening and can lead to a loss of independence. If you’re over 65, you have a 1 in 3 chance of falling, and between 10-20% of these falls result in an injury such as a hip fracture, or death. For people aged 80 and over, the risk of falling increases to 1 in 2.
Amongst those aged 0-14 in Tāmaki Makaurau, 49% of injury hospitalisations are caused by falls. And of that number, one third (414) are because of playground equipment falls.
414
0-14 year olds hospitalised from falls involving playground equipment per year (average).
(Deaths 2012-2016, Others 2014-2018)
Fractures 24.5 per 1000 population
Non fractures 181.7 per 1000 population
Cost $80,551,783
ACC new claims, rates and
costs for 65 years plus
Taking Action
There is compelling evidence of effective interventions to reduce falls and fractures in older populations.
The Safety Collective supports these interventions and ways of increasing awareness of Live Stronger For Longer (LSFL) accredited programmes, and support for home strength and balance services targeting people 75 years and over who can’t attend group based, community programmes.
We also promote the need for well-designed playgrounds and play equipment that minimise injuries for children, by encouraging safety considerations such as the continued use of best practice design and maintenance standards in local board plans.
