Falls

Falls Facts

Falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalisation and one of the top three causes of injury related death in New Zealand. Between 1993 and 2002, more than 160,000 people were hospitalised for fall-related injuries, accounting for 43% of all unintentional injury-related hospital admissions. 

Between 1992 and 2001 nearly 2,300 people died from fall-related causes, accounting for 21% of all unintentional injury-related fatalities in New Zealand.

The majority of those who fall and injure themselves are children or older adults. However, falls are also one of the biggest causes of home injuries for adult New Zealanders in the middle age range (15-64 years).

Falls Prevention

• The National Falls Prevention Strategy (2005-2015) aims to reduce the incidence and severity of injury from falls and the impact of fall-related injuries on New Zealanders' health and wellbeing. It sets out to improve coordination and leadership in falls prevention at the local level.
• The Taranaki Falls Strategy Group (pictured below) has developed a local Falls Prevention Strategy that outlines how the National Strategy will be implemented at a local level. The Strategy has a particular focus on prevention falls in older people. The work of this group led to them winning a Safety Award at the NZ Injury Prevention & Community Safety Awards in 2008.
• A number of falls prevention initiatives are taking place locally. These initiatives target different age groups (children, older people, workers, etc.) as well as different settings (such as home and workplace).

 Pictured: Taranaki Falls Strategy Group representatives at a local                                                                      presentation of their NZ Safety Award 2008. The group meets quarterly                                                                          and membership is open to all individuals with an interest in falls prevention.