With the official start of the fall season this Saturday, the Iowa Department of Public Health is recognizing Falls Prevention Awareness Day the day before.

There are nearly 11,000 fall-related hospitalizations in Iowa each year. A few ways to prevent falls, especially for those over 65 years old, is to reduce trip hazards in the home, improve vision, and increase strength and balance. Eric Turner of JET Physical Therapy says it’s important to keep your body active as you age, “As we age those coordination skills, if we’re not training them, they’re going to decline and often we don’t realize it until we’ve had a fall. And sometimes, depending on the circumstances of the fall, you may have already created a major injury that requires some kind of surgery or creates some kind of disability. So it’s really important to consider that and plan for that.” Turner adds it’s also important to ease into activities after being away from them for some time, as to not over exert yourself. And when using ladders or step stools be sure they’re placed safely and securely. Also, according to IDPH, falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries.