Baby, It’s Cold Outside

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Brrr…baby, it’s cold outside.

As the Arctic snap envelops us, like many seniors, I am fearful of going for a walk outside alone.

I could write a sequel to Erica Jong’s Fear of Flying and aptly name it Fear of Falling.

How on earth did I get this way, I ask myself.

Well it started over a decade ago when I was just a spring chicken. I remember it was a beautiful late summer day and I was strolling along South Granville, arms laden with parcels.

The next thing I remember is the toe of my sandal caught on the uneven pavement and I was falling uncontrollably, unable to upright myself.

My next memory is me laying on the pavement crying and shouting expletives while surrounded by helpful passers-by, firemen and paramedics.

I must have blacked out.

I suffered a cut over my eyebrow but my designer sunglasses remained intact.

I dodged a bullet there and declined an ambulance ride to VGH as I was okay. Shaken but okay.

That was the first time I fell.

The second time was on vacation where I was walking and talking at the same time.

I fell and both of my ankles went over but I was unscathed. Just sore for a couple of days.

The third time was here in South Surrey where I was again talking and walking and stepped off a curb.

Again, no injuries save my pride.

So now I am very cautious when I walk and usually carry a walking stick which has become my steady companion.

Knowing my propensity for falling, I was extremely careful on a recent trip to Asia where every step was a perilous one. Uneven sidewalks, steep stairs on the ancient ruins and temples and endless hills.

Nary a stumble.

In early January before the deep freeze, I went for a walk with my guy and two girlfriends who came for a visit.

It was a beautiful day and the pavement surface was smooth as a baby’s bottom.

Smooth except for one little unsuspecting pine cone.

Yes, you guessed it, I was walking and talking at the same time and fell with a crash with no opportunity to prevent it.

My foot went in one direction and my body in the other.

 As I could weight bear on my foot, I proposed we continue on with our walk.

End of story or so I thought.

At 2:00 am, I awoke in horrendous pain and nothing could console me.

I went to Emergency and sure enough, I have cracked a rib.

Very painful.

There’s nothing you can do for it except drugs. Hurray for drugs.

I have such empathy for those with chronic pain. At least my injury will heal in six weeks.

So now you know, why I am fearful of going for a walk right now.

According to the Government of Canada website, falls are the leading cause of injury among older Canadians with 20 to 30 percent of seniors experiencing one or more falls each year.

Falls cause 85 percent of seniors’ injury-related hospitalizations, 95 percent of all hip fractures with a $2 billion annual price tag in direct healthcare costs.

The good news is that falls are preventable and action can be taken by all.

You can check out Seniors’ Falls in Canada: Second Report or the Fraser Health Authority which has a Falls Prevention program which is extremely helpful.

As for me, I will be more careful this year and have a solution for this icy Arctic blast.

I’m heading south next week for the duration of the winter.

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