The Pinellas CARES (Community Education through Resources, Education, and Safety) program is an initiative born from the growing national movement of community paramedicine and mobile integrated healthcare. These innovative programs are designed to improve citizen well-being by offering alternative support systems outside the traditional 911 emergency response and hospital-centric model. Pinellas CARES focuses on delivering crucial resources directly to the community, right where they are needed most.
Understanding the Pinellas CARES Program
Falls represent a significant portion of emergency medical service calls within Pinellas County, often being the second most frequent reason for EMS dispatch. Alarmingly, a substantial number of these fall-related calls are repeat occurrences at the same residential locations. Recognizing this pattern, the Pinellas Park CARES program was established as a targeted resource management tool dedicated to fall and injury prevention. By proactively identifying locations with recurrent fall incidents, CARES is able to intervene and offer support.
The program proactively reaches out to individuals identified as being at high risk due to repeated falls. Furthermore, Pinellas CARES welcomes direct enrollment requests from community members who recognize their need for fall prevention assistance. Upon acceptance into the program, a dedicated CARES coordinator arranges a personalized consultation, which includes a comprehensive in-home safety assessment. Following this initial consultation, participants benefit from tangible resources and tailored strategies aimed at mitigating fall risks and reducing the likelihood of future incidents.
Pinellas CARES extends its reach beyond individual residences by collaborating with local long-term care facilities, including Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Facilities. This partnership aims to enhance resident safety and prevent falls within these communities. The program provides these facilities with valuable insights into location-specific trends related to falls. This awareness empowers long-term care facilities to implement proactive measures, ultimately reducing emergencies, fall-related injuries, and illnesses among their residents.
For further details about the Pinellas CARES Program, please contact CARES Coordinator Erin Giblin at 727-369-5786.
Essential Fall Prevention Tips from Pinellas CARES
Preventing falls is crucial for maintaining independence and quality of life. Pinellas CARES recommends implementing these key safety measures in your home:
- Eliminate Trip Hazards: Conduct a room-by-room inspection to identify potential tripping hazards. Look for loose carpeting, unsecured throw rugs, children’s or pet toys, uneven flooring, and exposed electrical cords. Repair, remove, or replace these hazards. Ensure clear pathways and reduce clutter throughout your living spaces.
- Enhance Bathroom Safety: Bathrooms pose significant fall risks. Install grab bars securely by toilets and bathtubs (avoid suction cup grab bars as they are unreliable). Consider using raised toilet seats and shower chairs for added stability. Regularly remove soap buildup from tubs and showers to prevent slips, and always use slip-resistant mats in these areas.
- Improve Lighting: Adequate lighting is essential to navigate safely, especially at night. Increase the brightness of lighting in areas where needed. Install motion sensor night-lights in bedrooms, hallways, and bathrooms to provide automatic illumination during nighttime hours.
- Choose Appropriate Footwear: Footwear plays a vital role in balance and stability. Wear non-slip rubber-soled shoes, ideally with Velcro straps instead of laces to prevent tripping on shoelaces. Consider using socks with non-slip grips on the soles for added traction when walking indoors.
- Move Deliberately: Many falls occur when transitioning too quickly between sitting and standing positions, or vice versa. Take your time and allow yourself a moment to stabilize before attempting to get out of bed or stand up from a chair.
- Medication Review: Regularly discuss all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, with your doctor or pharmacist. Ensure you understand the potential side effects, especially dizziness or drowsiness, and only take medications exactly as prescribed.
- Regular Vision and Hearing Checks: Impaired vision or hearing significantly increases the risk of falls. Schedule regular check-ups with your eye doctor and audiologist to ensure any issues are addressed promptly.
- Maintain an Active Lifestyle: With your physician’s approval, engage in activities that improve strength and balance, such as walking, swimming, or chair exercises. Avoiding physical activity weakens muscles and reduces balance, making falls more likely. Your doctor can also recommend a physical therapist to create a personalized exercise plan to enhance balance and muscle strength.
