Fatal falls down stairs

Fatal falls down stairs in south-east Scotland were studied using prospecti vely collected data between 1992 and 1997. 51 individuals, comprising 27 me n and 24 women with mean age 68.9 years, died following falls down stairs, 30 (59%) of which were unwitnessed. 43 (84%) individuals died following fal ls within their own homes. Overall, 27 (53%) fatal falls resulted in death at the scene of the accident. Analysis of injuries according to the Abbrevi ated Injury Scale yielded injury severity scores (ISS) of between 5 and 75, but only four individuals had injuries recognised to be unsurvivable (ISS = 75). Injury to the brain and/or spinal cord was responsible for the vast majority of most severe injuries. The results demonstrate that stairs repre sent a significant hazard for the elderly. Most of the deaths in the pre-ho spital setting appeared to be more the result of the fact that the victim w as alone and unable to summon assistance, rather than as a result of unsurv ivable injuries. Consideration needs to be given to both how the safety of stairs can be improved and whether a particular elderly person can safely c ope with stairs. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.