Slip and fall accidents result in over 800,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States, and one in five falls causes a serious injury. The elderly are especially susceptible to injury from falls, and each year three million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. In fact, more than 95 percent of all hip fracture injuries are the result of a fall. Slip and fall injuries come with significant economic impact as well, with a recent year’s medical costs totaling more than $50 billion.
In South Carolina, fall-related injuries among older adults result in nearly 7,000 hospitalizations and 25,000 emergency room visits each year. The numbers, however, are significantly higher in some years. In one year, there were 417 deaths, 17,471 hospitalizations, and 134,448 emergency department visits from falls in South Carolina. Non-fatal injuries result in over $1.2 billion in hospital and emergency department charges annually in South Carolina, and fatalities from falls result in another $103 million in lost productivity and medical costs.