Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Reduce the slip factor
• Part 2 of 3: How to Secure Your Ladder
• Part 3 of 3: Appropriate clothing

Thousands of people are injured each year from falling down stairs, but if older people are injured, the consequences can be very serious. With a few simple safety tips, you can easily prevent most of these accidents. Learning about the reasons people fall down stairs and changing some of your habits can help you avoid this fate.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Reduce the slip factor

1. 1 Do not be distructed. Some people go down the stairs so often that they don't look at their feet at all, and this is the cause of many accidents. Studies have shown that people usually only look at the first three rungs of a ladder and ignore the rest. Going down the unfamiliar stairs, step on each step carefully.
   • Old stairs may have different tread depths. This feature is the main reason for falling down stairs. Be aware of the possible discrepancy and descend carefully.
   • If you suffer from myopia, be sure to wear glasses when going down the stairs. Failure to focus on your feet increases your risk of falling down stairs.
2. 2 Do not hurry. Do not rush or run down stairs, especially if they are steep, curved, or narrow. If you are in a hurry, take a deep breath before going down the stairs.
   • Never step over a step.
   • Watch where you are stepping, especially at the base of the stairs. Many accidents occur at the moment when a person believes that he has already descended and takes a step into emptiness.
3. 3 Do not neglect handrails and railings. A railing is a structure that encloses a staircase, while a railing is used when going down the stairs. Make sure the handrails are at the same height, 86-96 cm above the ladder.
   • If you have decorative handrails but are of little use, replace them with suitable handrails.
   • The thickness of the handrail should be sufficient for an adult to grab onto it with a hand. There should be no splinters or roughness on the handrail that could injure your hand.
   • The handrail should stretch unhindered from the beginning to the end of the ladder, without any gaps.
   • At the base, the handrail should be at least one step long. This will increase stability when reaching the end of the ladder.
4. 4 Inform others about the importance of handrails. Handrails are an effective means of preventing falls from stairs. Let everyone who uses stairs, whether in your home or work, know the importance of holding onto the handrails when going downstairs.
   • Handrails should be located on both sides of the ladder so that the person going up and the person going down the ladder can continuously hold onto the handrail.
   • Always go down the stairs with one hand on the handrail.
5. 5 Keep people at risk away from stairs. Small children and the elderly, such as those with dementia, who cannot safely move up and down stairs should be kept out of the stairs by using a barrier. Make sure the stairs are covered at both the top and bottom.
   • Attach the barrier securely to the side wall. The other side of the barrier will be attached to the stair rail.
   • For this to have any effect, the barrier must be latched closed at all times.
   • Door barriers are designed to be installed inside the door frame. Do not use a door barrier to enclose stairs as it will not provide the necessary safety.

Part 2 of 3: How to Secure Your Ladder

1. 1 Get organized. Throwing things on the stairs are a common cause of falling off the stairs. Before going down or up the stairs, make sure they are not cluttered with anything.
   • Nothing should hang or stick out of the stairs, such as loose planks, nails, or other debris.
   • Wipe up any spilled liquids or sticky spots that might interfere with your descent.
   • Do not leave unfinished carpets at the top or bottom of the stairs. You can slip on them and fall down the stairs.
2. 2 Increase the visibility of your stairs. Many falls are caused by erroneous estimates of the distance to the stairs. If the stairs become more visible, it will be more difficult for you to make mistakes. You can highlight each rung and thereby improve the visibility of the stairs in your home or work.
   • Use lighting or paint to highlight the outlines of each step. The most common strategy is to paint a bright strip along the edge of each step, or illuminate them with a strip of small lights.
   • Use a matte paint instead of glossy paint to avoid light glare that can interfere with getting the correct depth.
   • Do not place patterned rugs on the stairs as they can mask depth.
3. 3 Get the lighting you need. For safe stair descent, it is recommended to have at least 50 lux, that is, the minimum amount of light required for reading. Make sure the lighting always provides good visibility of the stairs. It is desirable that the light can be turned on both at the bottom and at the top of the stairs.
   • Staircase lighting can be installed in the wall, 12-15 cm above the stairs.
   • Lighting can also be installed inside each rung so that it illuminates the downstream rung or shines from the inside. Staircase lighting is your chance to get creative!
   • If you find yourself on a staircase without proper lighting, use a flashlight.
4. 4 Watch for wear on the step cover. The step must not be worn, smooth or slippery, otherwise it could lead to an accident. Install non-slip surfaces on the steps to reduce the chance of falling. They can be made of rubber, metal or anti-slip paint.
   • The coatings are applied either on the entire step or only on its front edge.
   • Carpets must be kept in good condition. No loose threads should stick out of the coating, and the coating itself should be replaced at the first signs of wear.

Part 3 of 3: Appropriate clothing

1. 1 Walk up the stairs with your shoes on. Shoes with good soles will increase your stability as you descend stairs. Walking in high-heeled shoes, soft-soled flip-flops, or socks is more likely to slide down stairs.
   • If you have weak ankles, be sure to include ankle support as you descend the stairs. A tucked ankle can lead to a fall.
   • For more stability, your feet should be turned slightly outward.
2. 2 Do not wear clothes that stretch on the floor. When going down or up stairs, it is very easy to step on a long, flowing skirt or trousers. Then you can hardly avoid falling. For your own good, it is worth refusing to wear such clothes when using the stairs.
   • If you do wear these clothes and must go down the stairs, be sure to pick up the hem with your hand as you go down. Hold the handrail firmly with your other hand.
   • Wearing dresses that are overly long will prevent you from seeing your legs. Lack of visual confirmation of the position of the feet on the stairs increases the risk of falling.
3. 3 Don't wear tight skirts. Skirts that interfere with the free movement of the knees and legs can also be dangerous. If the skirt is too narrow, the person will not be able to step over the steps correctly.
   • If wearing a narrow skirt cannot be avoided, then when going down or up the stairs, first put both feet on the step, and only then step over to the next.
   • Another way to climb stairs in a very tight skirt is to raise the skirt as high as the situation allows. This will give your knees more freedom of movement and also make it safer to climb or descend stairs.