9.3.2 Falls

Policies and actions

 

1.

Guidance:

Develop or update housing standards and building regulations (28).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Housing, construction, health

 

Level of implementation:

National

 

Instruments:

Regulation

 

ICHI code:

UAL.WJ.ZZ#ICD-11 PA6Z

Policy change in relation to design, construction and building products and technology of buildings for private use

Unintentional fall from unspecified heigh

 

UAL.WI.ZZ#ICD-11 PA6Z

Restrictions through laws or standards in relation to design, construction and building products and technology of buildings for private us

Unintentional fall from unspecified height

 

2.

Guidance:

Develop or update playground standards, such as for the depth of appropriate surface material, height of equipment and periodic maintenance (29).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Construction, health, education

 

Level of implementation:

National

 

Instruments:

Regulation

 

ICHI code:

UAI.WJ.ZZ#ICD-11 PA6Z

Policy change in relation to products and technology for culture, recreation and sport

Unintentional fall from unspecified height


UAI.WI.ZZ#ICD-11 PA6Z

Restrictions through laws or standards in relation to products and technology for culture, recreation and sport

Unintentional fall from unspecified height

 

3.

Guidance:

Promote policies requiring protective equipment such as helmets during certain sports and leisure activities (29).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health, education, sports and leisure

 

Level of implementation:

National

 

Instruments:

Regulation

 

ICHI code:

UAI.WJ.ZZ#ICD-11 PA6Z

Policy change in relation to products and technology for culture, recreation and sport

Unintentional fall from unspecified height

 

4.

Guidance:

Assess and improve safety, if needed, of sports and recreational equipment (28).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Industry, health

 

Level of implementation:

National

 

Instruments:

Assessment and surveillance, infrastructure, technology and built environment

 

ICHI code:

UAI.AA.ZZ&VC1#ICD-11 PA6Z

Assessment in relation to products and technology for culture, recreation and sport

Safety-related behaviours, unspecified

Unintentional fall from unspecified height

 

UAI.VC.ZZ&VC1#ICD-11 PA6Z

Public health surveillance in relation to products and technology for culture, recreation and sport

Safety-related behaviours, unspecified

Unintentional fall from unspecified height

 

5.

Guidance:

Support the installation of window guards, bars and child-proof locks for windows in high-rise blocks, stair guards or gates, grab rails, lockable access to balconies and hazard removal (28, 29).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Housing, construction

 

Level of implementation:

National, community

 

Instruments:

Infrastructure, technology and built environment

 

ICHI code:

UAM.TM.ZZ&VCC#ICD-11 PA6Z

Environmental modification to the design, construction and building products and technology of buildings, unspecified

Home safety behaviours

Unintentional fall from unspecified height

 

6.

Guidance:

Consider implementing home visits, assessment of home furniture and environmental modification for people with children or those at an older age/with known risk factors or a history of falling, including stair gates and guard rails (27−29).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National, community

Universal health coverage

 

Instruments:

Assessment and surveillance, infrastructure, technology and built environment

 

ICHI code:

UAL.VC.ZZ&VCC#ICD-11 PA6Z

Public health surveillance in relation to the design, construction and building products and technology of buildings for private use

Home safety behaviours

Unintentional fall from unspecified height

 

7.

Guidance:

Promote physical activity to prevent falls (2).

More guidance to promote physical activity especially though increased levels of walking and cycling is listed in section 9.2 Environments for safe and sustainable transport, active mobility and physical activity.

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

National, community

Universal health coverage

 

Instruments:

Information, education and communication

 

ICHI code:

VEB.VB.ZZ#ICD-11 PA6Z

Awareness raising in relation to physical activity behaviours

Unintentional fall from unspecified height

 

8.

Guidance:

Raise awareness about risks of falls, high-risk groups (children and older people) and available interventions (such as installation of window guards and grab rails, balcony risk and protection, promotion of physical activity, and hazard removal) (27, 28).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health, housing, construction

 

Level of implementation:

Community, national

Universal health coverage

 

Instruments:

Information, education and communication

 

ICHI code:

UAM.VB.ZZ&VCC#ICD-11 PA6Z

Awareness raising in relation to the design, construction and building products and technology of buildings, unspecified

Home safety behaviours

Unintentional fall from unspecified height

 

9.

Guidance:

Give parents information about child fall risks and support them to reduce these risks around the home (29).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health

 

Level of implementation:

Community,  national

Univeral health coverage

 

Instruments:

Information, education and communication

 

ICHI code:

VEB.VB.ZZ#ICD-11 PA6Z

Awareness raising in relation to physical activity behaviours

Unintentional fall from unspecified height

 

VEB.VA.ZZ&UAL&XBO8.6#ICD-11 PA6Z

Capacity building in relation to physical activity behaviours

Design, construction and building products and technology of buildings for private use

Communities

Unintentional fall from unspecified height

 

10.

Guidance:

Provide parenting programmes for low-income and other marginalized families (29).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health, education, social welfare and family

 

Level of implementation:

Community, national

 

Instruments:

Information, education and communication

 

ICHI code:

VEB.VA.ZZ&XBO8.6#ICD-11 PA6Z

Capacity building in relation to physical activity behaviours

Communities

Unintentional fall from unspecified height

 

11.

Guidance:

Provide school-based teaching of martial arts-based fall techniques and exercises (29).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Education

 

Level of implementation:

Community, national

 

Instruments:

Information, education and communication

 

ICHI code:

VEB.PM.ZZ&XBO8.6#ICD-11 PA6Z

Education in relation to physical activity behaviours

Communities

Unintentional fall from unspecified height

 

12.

Guidance:

Make available gait, balance and functional training and Tai Chi classes, the latter particularly to older people (29).

 

Sector principally involved in planning/ implementation:

Health, sports and leisure

 

Level of implementation:

Community, national

Universal health coverage

 

Instruments:

Information, education and communication

 

ICHI code:

VEB.VA.ZZ&XBO8.6

Training in relation to physical activity behaviours

Communities

 

Selected tools

·       WHO 2012: TEACH-VIP 2 (30) users’ manual This is the second iteration of Training, Educating and Advancing Collaboration in Health on Violence and Injury Prevention (TEACH-VIP), a comprehensive 174 injury prevention and control curriculum that has been developed through the efforts of WHO and a network of global injury prevention experts.

·       WHO/CDC 2001: Injury surveillance guidelines (24) These are guidelines to assess data on injuries that will help to develop effective prevention strategies in countries.

·       WHO 2018: Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030: more active people for a healthier world (2)