ABSTRACT
Falls from a standing position or a substantial height are a prominent cause of injury and death among children and adults. Infants can topple from changing tables. Adults can fall from ladders or platforms that lack a protective railing or equivalent. Seniors can fall due to muscle weakness or loss of balance. A promising solution for elders who have balance problems that place them at greater risk for fall injuries is sensing mechanisms that employ accelerometers to detect falls and an on-product button to enable users to call for help. Fall detectors automatically transmit an alarm in case the wearer loses consciousness or is too weak to press the button manually. Children’s furniture and associated adjustments to it should be designed with a child’s physical capabilities in mind. A crib’s mattress should be low enough that a child cannot climb up the crib’s side and fall out.
