Most Common Places for Slip and Falls in Florida

Falls happen frequently in Florida. You might think that Florida’s fall rate would be skewed by Florida’s large population of seniors. But falls are the most common cause of non-fatal emergency room visits in the U.S. for all ages.

In 2020, falls caused 3,728 deaths in Florida. For comparison, Florida had 3,332 deaths from traffic accidents that year. 

Here is some information about how and where these falls happen.

Statistics About Falls

Falls cause about 70,000 hospitalizations every year. Of these, about 75% of hospitalizations result from fractured bones. About 14% of patients hospitalized for falls have a traumatic brain injury.

Although falls happen to everyone, the statistics show some disparities in how and where falls happen based on age. They also show different outcomes depending on the age of the accident victim.

Half of Florida’s 2020 falling deaths happened to accident victims over the age of 85. Florida had no children or teenagers die from falls in 2020.

This age distribution affects the distribution of fall locations. People 75 or older are more likely to fall indoors, while people under the age of 75 are more likely to fall outdoors.

Senior Falls in Florida

Across all age groups, 44% of falls happen inside the home. But for seniors, 77% of falls happen at home. 

A few reasons seniors tend to fall at home include:

• Seniors stay inside during Florida’s hot summer months
• Seniors in assisted living and nursing homes spend little time outdoors
• Many outdoor falls happen while working, but seniors who are retired may not venture out as often
• Seniors in Florida do not need to deal with snow or ice when they walk outdoors

While seniors accounted for over half of Florida’s falling deaths in 2020, the top causes of death for seniors do not include falls. Instead, natural causes, including heart attack, cancer, and stroke, make up the top three reasons seniors in Florida die. But accidental falls are the fourth-most common cause of death among Florida seniors.

In-home falls for seniors do not necessarily happen where you would expect. About 14% of in-home falls happen on stairs. Another 14% happen in the bathroom, including the shower or bath. About 7% happen when falling off a chair or ladder.

The bedroom sees a surprisingly large number of falls for seniors. 7% of seniors fall while:

• In bed
• Getting into bed
• Getting out of bed

Every year, about 40 Floridians die, and about 2,000 get injured in bedroom falls.

The most common fall inside the home does not happen in a particular place. Instead, it happens while seniors walk inside their homes. 

Trip or slip and fall accidents in the home happen for many reasons, including:

• Spills
• Loose rugs
• Objects on the floor
• Raised thresholds
• Loss of traction for walkers or canes
• Loss of footing

Seniors have a high risk of trip or slip and fall accidents due to:

• Poor eyesight
• Diminished strength
• Impaired balance
• Decreased flexibility

Slip and fall accidents tend to happen in rooms with slick floors, including bathrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms. Slips tend to happen when your foot loses traction on the floor. Tile, wood, and laminate flooring allow liquids and condensation to accumulate, especially in Florida’s humid climate.

Younger Adult Falls in Florida

Younger adults have a slightly higher likelihood of falling away from the home. Over half of falls for adults under 75 happen outside the home. This does not necessarily mean that these falls happen outdoors. 

These falls include falls in:

• Workplaces
• Office buildings
• Stores
• Restaurants
• Parking structures
• Gyms

They also include falls that happen at home in the yard, on the pool deck, or on the patio.

Many working-age adults fall while working. These workplace accidents can cause serious injuries because they can include falls off ladders, scaffolding, and other elevated locations. Workplace falls can also involve falls on stairs, and same-elevation falls.

Geographic Locations of Falls in Florida

One underappreciated factor in the location of falls in Florida is the locations of theme parks and other tourist attractions. 

Orange County has one of the highest rates of falls in Florida. Orange County’s fall rate of over 300 people per 100,000 residents eclipses the fall rates in much more populous counties like Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.

Theme parks, parks, shopping centers, and parking lots create the conditions for tripping or slipping and falling accidents. Heavy crowds and distractions can cause guests to lose their footing or traction while walking.

And while Floridians do not need to deal with snow or ice, Florida does get a lot of rain. 

Rain can cause falls by:

• Accumulating into puddles
• Making grass or other types of vegetation slick
• Getting tracked into stores, hotels, and restaurants
• Washing debris onto walkways

Florida also has high humidity. Atmospheric humidity can condense on cold surfaces like tile or concrete floors. This can create the conditions for slips and trips.

Other geographic locations where falls happen include counties with larger populations. Alachua, Hillsborough, and Duval have a fairly high fall rate, but not as high as Orange.

Fall Prevention in Florida

Based on this information, you can take a few steps to minimize the risk of falls. 

Seniors and their families can:

• Install grab bars in bathrooms
• Tape the edges of rugs
• Have carpet restretched periodically
• Make sure walkers and canes have rubber feet

For younger adults, you can reduce the risk of falls by:

• Wearing safety equipment at work
• Repairing broken or loose stair handrails
• Running an air conditioner or dehumidifier in places with slick floors
• Cleaning up spills quickly
• Watching where you step, particularly in grocery stores and other buildings with tile floors

By treading cautiously, you can reduce the risk of slipping and falling at home, at work, and while out on the town.