Online Medical Reference Highlights Steps to Prevent Falls

Kenilworth, N.J. (September 21, 2015)—Steps that can be taken to avoid falls among the elderly will be featured this month on MerckManuals.com in advance of September 23, designated Falls Prevention Awareness Day by the National Council on Aging because it’s the first day of fall in 2015.

The essay related to falls in the elderly and an accompanying editorial by the contributing author will be highlighted on the website starting on Monday, September 21.

The Merck Manuals, a series of medical reference books long trusted by doctors and patients alike, went all-digital earlier this year.

“While the entire content of The Merck Manuals is always available online, what we decide to call special attention to on the website is dynamic,” explained Editor-in-Chief Robert S. Porter, M.D. “We often look to highlight specific topics based on national observance days and what’s trending in the news.”

According to data released in May by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, the number of American seniors who die from fall-related injuries has nearly doubled since 2000.

The home assessment checklist for fall prevention is part of the “falls in the elderly” section and can be viewed at: www.merckmanuals.com/professional/geriatrics/falls-in-the-elderly