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Stop the Slip: Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls, The #1 Cause of Emergency Room Visits
Fixing a $150 billion healthcare crisis
Since 1999, we have reduced deaths from heart disease 15%. Deaths caused by auto accidents are down 12%. But deaths from falls have increased over 150%. Both injuries and deaths caused by falls are at record highs and the problem continues to grow. We've learned how to fix the human heart and we have made driving safer. Now is the time to focus on preventing fall injuries.
Falls are the leading cause of emergency room visits in the US, with over 9 million injuries in 2014. Stop the Slip shows how you can prevent these injuries. Thom Disch combines personal, real life stories with an in-depth look at this problem. Everyone falls, but falls don't just happen, they're preceded by other events. When you eliminate those events, you reduce the risk of falling. Following the simple five step A-L-E-R-T System(TM) will reduce your risk of falling.
As you read this book you'll also discover many interesting and surprising facts. For example: Falls kill 7 times more people than the flu. Winter weather appears to be a much smaller cause of fall deaths than you might expect. Falls cause nearly 4 times more emergency room visits than auto accidents.
There is undeniable proof that falls are preventable. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to learn how you can reduce the risk of a fall injury.
Since 1999, we have reduced deaths from heart disease 15%. Deaths caused by auto accidents are down 12%. But deaths from falls have increased over 150%. Both injuries and deaths caused by falls are at record highs and the problem continues to grow. We've learned how to fix the human heart and we have made driving safer. Now is the time to focus on preventing fall injuries.
Falls are the leading cause of emergency room visits in the US, with over 9 million injuries in 2014. Stop the Slip shows how you can prevent these injuries. Thom Disch combines personal, real life stories with an in-depth look at this problem. Everyone falls, but falls don't just happen, they're preceded by other events. When you eliminate those events, you reduce the risk of falling. Following the simple five step A-L-E-R-T System(TM) will reduce your risk of falling.
As you read this book you'll also discover many interesting and surprising facts. For example: Falls kill 7 times more people than the flu. Winter weather appears to be a much smaller cause of fall deaths than you might expect. Falls cause nearly 4 times more emergency room visits than auto accidents.
There is undeniable proof that falls are preventable. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to learn how you can reduce the risk of a fall injury.
228 pages, Hardcover
Published March 7, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 23, 2017
A Great Book that I thoroughly enjoyed. You can tell that Thom Disch knows this subject very well, and he has put together a very interesting book. Not only did I learn quite a few things, but I really enjoyed some of the real-life stories. It really makes you stop and think about your own life, and the environment around you. Taking those extra few seconds or even minutes to look around you, take in your surroundings, could save you a whole world of pain. Just one slip or trip, and our whole life can suddenly change. If you’re lucky falling down will only result in hurting your pride, or just a small injury. However, it could result in a permanent and debilitating injury, or even worse, death. I’ve personally fallen down riding my push bike to work, and out of all the times I have fallen down, 95% of those have been my own fault. There are a number of sections in this book that highlight what I would have done wrong, and those are: being in too much of hurry, not taking the weather conditions into account, and not taking the time to look at a road surface. One of the sections I found very interesting is, talking about muscle structure, and how it breaks down as we get older. There is a lot of work and research that has been put into this book, and the Author has done a fabulous job. It’s a book that is certainly well worth a read.
November 22, 2017
‘We should train our family members, coworkers, and neighbors so they too can stop the slip’.
Thom Disch earned his Bachelor’s degree in economics from Oakland University, Michigan and his Master’s degree in management from Northwestern University. He is a leading expert and speaker on slip, trip, and fall injuries in the United States and has been compiling statistics and stories related to this healthcare crisis for ten years. He is a serial entrepreneur and owns several companies and nationally known brands, including Handi-Ramp (Handiramp.com), PetSTEP International (Petstep.com), and Industrial Toolz, Inc. (IndustrialToolz.com). He has developed dozens of products for the specific purpose of reducing and preventing slips, trips and falls. These products have won awards for innovation and many of his designs are patented by the US Patent and Trademark Office. He has sold millions of dollars of fall prevention products and solutions to homeowners, businesses and governmental offices. Now he makes his publishing debut STOP THE SILP to spread the word about this potentially traumatic subject.
As he explains before addressing his topic, ‘For the scientists and technicians in the reading audience: government agencies refer to this class of injury as “slips, trips, and falls,” or STF (I use both in this book). These injuries can be a consequence of falling on the same level (this is the most frequent situation) or falling to a lower level, for example, down the stairs or off a ladder. They can also include slipping or tripping without an actual fall; this occurs when a person recovers from a slip, trip, or fall without hitting the ground, but in the process twists or reacts in a way that causes an injury.’ It is degree of practical explanation and information that makes this book so very valuable.
Thom divides is book into four sections – Why we fall, Where we fall, The business side of slips, trips and falls, and Preventing slips, trips and falls. And as a preparation for the degree of serious explanation the book contains Thom points out ‘The number of people injured and dying from falls is at record numbers and the problem is growing. Using data from 2014, compiled from the Centers for Disease Control database, reveal the true scope of the problem: Falls kill three times more people in the United States than firearms and seven times more people than the flu, Falls are the number one reason for emergency room visits every year, Falls cost the US economy over $150 billion per year in medical costs and lost wages, Falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injury, resulting in four times more injuries than sports In 2014, falls caused nine million emergency room visits, one million hospitalizations, and thirty thousand deaths, Falls aren’t just a problem for the elderly: 25 percent of fall injuries happen to children and 75 percent happen to people under age 68, Even though we promote fall safety and prevention for our elderly, the rate at which our elderly die from falls has doubled in the last fifteen years.’ Serious subject matter that emphasizes the importance of reading this impressive book.
Incorporating graphs and other forms of data Thom emphasizes the seriousness of this problem, and an attempt to reduce the practical information herein would diminish the impact of Thom’s presentation. This book should be mandatory reading for all age groups, for families, businesses, nursing homes, schools – every place where people ambulate. This is an impressive book by an expert in the field. Highly Recommended
Thom Disch earned his Bachelor’s degree in economics from Oakland University, Michigan and his Master’s degree in management from Northwestern University. He is a leading expert and speaker on slip, trip, and fall injuries in the United States and has been compiling statistics and stories related to this healthcare crisis for ten years. He is a serial entrepreneur and owns several companies and nationally known brands, including Handi-Ramp (Handiramp.com), PetSTEP International (Petstep.com), and Industrial Toolz, Inc. (IndustrialToolz.com). He has developed dozens of products for the specific purpose of reducing and preventing slips, trips and falls. These products have won awards for innovation and many of his designs are patented by the US Patent and Trademark Office. He has sold millions of dollars of fall prevention products and solutions to homeowners, businesses and governmental offices. Now he makes his publishing debut STOP THE SILP to spread the word about this potentially traumatic subject.
As he explains before addressing his topic, ‘For the scientists and technicians in the reading audience: government agencies refer to this class of injury as “slips, trips, and falls,” or STF (I use both in this book). These injuries can be a consequence of falling on the same level (this is the most frequent situation) or falling to a lower level, for example, down the stairs or off a ladder. They can also include slipping or tripping without an actual fall; this occurs when a person recovers from a slip, trip, or fall without hitting the ground, but in the process twists or reacts in a way that causes an injury.’ It is degree of practical explanation and information that makes this book so very valuable.
Thom divides is book into four sections – Why we fall, Where we fall, The business side of slips, trips and falls, and Preventing slips, trips and falls. And as a preparation for the degree of serious explanation the book contains Thom points out ‘The number of people injured and dying from falls is at record numbers and the problem is growing. Using data from 2014, compiled from the Centers for Disease Control database, reveal the true scope of the problem: Falls kill three times more people in the United States than firearms and seven times more people than the flu, Falls are the number one reason for emergency room visits every year, Falls cost the US economy over $150 billion per year in medical costs and lost wages, Falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injury, resulting in four times more injuries than sports In 2014, falls caused nine million emergency room visits, one million hospitalizations, and thirty thousand deaths, Falls aren’t just a problem for the elderly: 25 percent of fall injuries happen to children and 75 percent happen to people under age 68, Even though we promote fall safety and prevention for our elderly, the rate at which our elderly die from falls has doubled in the last fifteen years.’ Serious subject matter that emphasizes the importance of reading this impressive book.
Incorporating graphs and other forms of data Thom emphasizes the seriousness of this problem, and an attempt to reduce the practical information herein would diminish the impact of Thom’s presentation. This book should be mandatory reading for all age groups, for families, businesses, nursing homes, schools – every place where people ambulate. This is an impressive book by an expert in the field. Highly Recommended
December 16, 2017
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Stop The Slip: Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls: The #1 Cause of Emergency Room Visits Kindle Edition by Thom Disch is a book that for me personally put into perspective of how little we think about slips, trips and falls and also how little we do to prevent them.
It is a remarkable book with extensive research backing it. The author really did his homework, and furthermore, he is in the business of preventing slips, trips and falls thus making this book even more useful and helpful because it is saturated with real-life examples and experiences that stem from the author’s extensive avocation.
I was surprised to learn that the tare of falling is the same across our life from the time we area babies until our old age. The difference is that because older people tend to injured more and recover slower we are stuck with an image that only older people fall down. That was a beautiful piece of information that really made me think and reevaluate the way I behave in and out of my house.
The book is thesaurus of information of why slips, trips, and falls happen. When they occur, how we can prevent them and also it provides an effective information through statistical charts that help the reader grasp even better how we should deal with slips, trips, and fall thus reducing the number of emergency visits to the hospital.
This book is written in such a way that any person can pick it up and find out how to reduce the risks of falling down and also this book will be useful to people who work as a security officer in big business or small business since the book also covers how to prevent accidents in the workplace.
If a business follows the suggestions of this book, it will save a lot of money and time as their employees are a concern.
Make sure to get a copy of this book because one day it will save your life or family members or a colleague at work.
Highly Recommended.
Stop The Slip: Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls: The #1 Cause of Emergency Room Visits Kindle Edition by Thom Disch is a book that for me personally put into perspective of how little we think about slips, trips and falls and also how little we do to prevent them.
It is a remarkable book with extensive research backing it. The author really did his homework, and furthermore, he is in the business of preventing slips, trips and falls thus making this book even more useful and helpful because it is saturated with real-life examples and experiences that stem from the author’s extensive avocation.
I was surprised to learn that the tare of falling is the same across our life from the time we area babies until our old age. The difference is that because older people tend to injured more and recover slower we are stuck with an image that only older people fall down. That was a beautiful piece of information that really made me think and reevaluate the way I behave in and out of my house.
The book is thesaurus of information of why slips, trips, and falls happen. When they occur, how we can prevent them and also it provides an effective information through statistical charts that help the reader grasp even better how we should deal with slips, trips, and fall thus reducing the number of emergency visits to the hospital.
This book is written in such a way that any person can pick it up and find out how to reduce the risks of falling down and also this book will be useful to people who work as a security officer in big business or small business since the book also covers how to prevent accidents in the workplace.
If a business follows the suggestions of this book, it will save a lot of money and time as their employees are a concern.
Make sure to get a copy of this book because one day it will save your life or family members or a colleague at work.
Highly Recommended.
December 3, 2017
When Thom Disch asked me to review his book, he based his request on my having reviewed a very different book, Being Mortal. What he couldn't have known is my personal history of falling. So I read the book with considerable interest.
As it turns out, Disch has come up with quite a few different products to help people avoid slips, trips and falls in businesses and homes. It is a good thing he has. Before reading the book, I figured falls were mostly a seniors problem. They aren't, though serious injuries and deaths increase in that cohort. The truth of the matter is, falls are a problem across the life span, costing billions of dollars annually.
While businesses have to plan for the safety of employees and customers or face liability suits, they account for only a small fraction of falls. We fall everywhere. Inattention looms large on my personal radar screen, but trip hazards are legion.
This is the most thorough exploration of slips, trips, and falls you are likely to come across. Disch writes about weather, footwear, pets, substances (medication, alcohol, drugs), hazards, lighting, pathways, and more. He sprinkles his chapters with stories that illustrate the points he is making.
Aside from the health issues associated with all that falling, the economic cost is unacceptably high. We will never eliminate all of that, but if we follow the recommendations in Disch's book, we can reduce the staggering impact.
This is a book that deserves a wide readership. Demands are placed on businesses and institutions to create safe workplaces, yet days lost to trips and falls are still way too high. But even if every business had a 100% safety record, the cost of slips, trips and falls would remain excessive because most of the behaviours and hazards occur outside the workplace.
Recommend this book to neighbours, friends, employers, and colleagues. It's time we stopped making fun of falls or being embarrassed when we tumble. This is a serious economic and health issue. We can change it.
As it turns out, Disch has come up with quite a few different products to help people avoid slips, trips and falls in businesses and homes. It is a good thing he has. Before reading the book, I figured falls were mostly a seniors problem. They aren't, though serious injuries and deaths increase in that cohort. The truth of the matter is, falls are a problem across the life span, costing billions of dollars annually.
While businesses have to plan for the safety of employees and customers or face liability suits, they account for only a small fraction of falls. We fall everywhere. Inattention looms large on my personal radar screen, but trip hazards are legion.
This is the most thorough exploration of slips, trips, and falls you are likely to come across. Disch writes about weather, footwear, pets, substances (medication, alcohol, drugs), hazards, lighting, pathways, and more. He sprinkles his chapters with stories that illustrate the points he is making.
Aside from the health issues associated with all that falling, the economic cost is unacceptably high. We will never eliminate all of that, but if we follow the recommendations in Disch's book, we can reduce the staggering impact.
This is a book that deserves a wide readership. Demands are placed on businesses and institutions to create safe workplaces, yet days lost to trips and falls are still way too high. But even if every business had a 100% safety record, the cost of slips, trips and falls would remain excessive because most of the behaviours and hazards occur outside the workplace.
Recommend this book to neighbours, friends, employers, and colleagues. It's time we stopped making fun of falls or being embarrassed when we tumble. This is a serious economic and health issue. We can change it.
May 17, 2018
Stop the Slip is a non-fiction book by Thom Disch on the hazards of slips, trips, and falls (STF) in the home, the workplace, and the environment, and the safety measures that need to be in place to prevent STF. Disch offers practical measures one can take to eliminate, or at least lessen, injuries from STF - the number one cause of emergency room visits for all age groups.
Whether you are a homeowner, a business owner, a person responsible for a particular environment, or one who is injured in a slips, trips, and falls incident, this helpful information applies to you.
Disch has gathered research data and statistics over a ten-year period, and says, “Now is the time to focus on preventing fall injuries.”
The author devised an ALERT System. He uses the acronym as an easy way to remember.
A – awareness is the first step.
L – learn what you can do to prevent a fall accident.
E – early awareness, early prevention, and early training is key.
R – react to what you have learned.
T – train your body and improve your balance.
Stop the Slip is a comprehensive study of years of research on slips, trips, and falls for all age groups from infants to the elderly mingled with real life stories about falls and their consequences health wise and financially. Disch gives interesting facts such as: the annual impact of fall injuries in the US exceeds $150 billion; or when using an extension ladder, the base of the ladder should be placed one foot away from the surface it’s resting on for every four feet of the ladder’s height.
I give Stop the Slip by Thom Disch a 5-star rating for its practical and essential information on preventing slips, trips, and falls for everyone who wants to make yourself, your family and your friends safer.
Review by: Rita Kroon, author of Cancer – a Journey through the Valley (memoir).
Whether you are a homeowner, a business owner, a person responsible for a particular environment, or one who is injured in a slips, trips, and falls incident, this helpful information applies to you.
Disch has gathered research data and statistics over a ten-year period, and says, “Now is the time to focus on preventing fall injuries.”
The author devised an ALERT System. He uses the acronym as an easy way to remember.
A – awareness is the first step.
L – learn what you can do to prevent a fall accident.
E – early awareness, early prevention, and early training is key.
R – react to what you have learned.
T – train your body and improve your balance.
Stop the Slip is a comprehensive study of years of research on slips, trips, and falls for all age groups from infants to the elderly mingled with real life stories about falls and their consequences health wise and financially. Disch gives interesting facts such as: the annual impact of fall injuries in the US exceeds $150 billion; or when using an extension ladder, the base of the ladder should be placed one foot away from the surface it’s resting on for every four feet of the ladder’s height.
I give Stop the Slip by Thom Disch a 5-star rating for its practical and essential information on preventing slips, trips, and falls for everyone who wants to make yourself, your family and your friends safer.
Review by: Rita Kroon, author of Cancer – a Journey through the Valley (memoir).
January 30, 2018
Stop the Slip was an interesting look and interpretation of the data collected over the slips, trips, and falls that plague us. Using numerous factoids to graphically present data (and in some cases tables), any reader can instantly see the big numbers and some dramatic that show that slips, trips, and falls may have a large burden on us. I found it to be an interesting read.
Further, one of my favorites aspects of the book were the insights from the writer and his wife as well as from many of the other interviewed/or media stories of people who recounted their experiences with slips, trips, and falls, some costly. I think these stories made everything feel more real. Often you see dollar signs and big numbers but are like, pffft thats not me, I can easily recover myself from slipping on something in the dark, or tripping on a rug, or on an icy spot, but when you hear stories of people slipping on the step of their porch or something of that sort and having to go to the hospital or endure months of recovery you start to actually pay attention. I found myself immediately noticing the same things mentioned in the stories, the rug that keeps slipping in the kitchen, or items around walkways that I keep walking on, and etc.
So the book gets praise for easily raising awareness of the issue of slips and falls for people of all ages.
I would have to say I think the graphs were good and such but just shows lots of bars and saying things look different or dramatically different without any associated hypothesis testing (testing means using even basic statistical analysis) would have been beneficial on most of the graphs. Also there were no error bars or other items of that sort (the usual summary statistics), so it, to me, was weak on that front.
Otherwise good read, and highly suggested.
Further, one of my favorites aspects of the book were the insights from the writer and his wife as well as from many of the other interviewed/or media stories of people who recounted their experiences with slips, trips, and falls, some costly. I think these stories made everything feel more real. Often you see dollar signs and big numbers but are like, pffft thats not me, I can easily recover myself from slipping on something in the dark, or tripping on a rug, or on an icy spot, but when you hear stories of people slipping on the step of their porch or something of that sort and having to go to the hospital or endure months of recovery you start to actually pay attention. I found myself immediately noticing the same things mentioned in the stories, the rug that keeps slipping in the kitchen, or items around walkways that I keep walking on, and etc.
So the book gets praise for easily raising awareness of the issue of slips and falls for people of all ages.
I would have to say I think the graphs were good and such but just shows lots of bars and saying things look different or dramatically different without any associated hypothesis testing (testing means using even basic statistical analysis) would have been beneficial on most of the graphs. Also there were no error bars or other items of that sort (the usual summary statistics), so it, to me, was weak on that front.
Otherwise good read, and highly suggested.
February 11, 2018
Stop the Slip: Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls is a must-read for everyone. Thom Disch provides statistics, practical information, and real life stories in an easily accessible format to help everyone avoid accidents. I cannot stress enough the importance of this book!
In addition to my own personal experiences with falls leading to the emergency room, my good friend shared with me a cautionary tale about how his aunt slipped and fell while she was changing a light bulb. She left behind 5 very young children. As she reached up to change the light bulb, I'm sure she wasn't thinking that would be the last thing she ever did.
Again, I cannot over emphasize the importance of this book!
Thank you, Mr. Disch, for all of your helpful information.
In addition to my own personal experiences with falls leading to the emergency room, my good friend shared with me a cautionary tale about how his aunt slipped and fell while she was changing a light bulb. She left behind 5 very young children. As she reached up to change the light bulb, I'm sure she wasn't thinking that would be the last thing she ever did.
Again, I cannot over emphasize the importance of this book!
Thank you, Mr. Disch, for all of your helpful information.
September 12, 2017
I found this book very interesting and useful. Being disabled I am more prone to "slips" than normal and it was so interesting to read about some techniques or advise on how to avoid accidents! I loved it!
May 17, 2018
This isn’t a novel and thus not a ‘page-turner’ type of read and thus I confess it took me many weeks to actually finish a leisurely reading. It is more an ‘encyclopedia type’ read, full of facts and stories that make for important reading that became even more engaging as I slowly worked through its very complete informational chapters. With no prior experience nor interest in the topic, during this read I found myself surrounded by too close connections with the warnings and preventative advice in the book. First my 92 year old mother-in-law took four falls in the first four months of the year as I was reading this. Next, a recently widowed friend fell while reaching about her bathtub trying to close a small window. Luckily, neither suffered more than some bumps and bruises. Not so lucky was my own wife who slipped (did not fall down, a minor moment despite later recalling hearing a ‘crack’ noise from her leg) as she was going through an office doorway when the door pushed her from the strong gust of wind outside. Seemingly ok, she soon found that left food swelling and drove herself to the local ER where an x-ray revealed a break in the ankle. With support from a cast, crutches and finally a boot device, she made the best of a chance occurrence. Now five painful months later, still under an ortho doctor’s care, an MRI has discovered not only a break that refuses to heal but also a fracture and ligaments that are torn. In the coming month (several thousands of dollars already spent), she will undergo ankle surgery (expensive and more painful) that will require 3 weeks of no weight bearing (luckily able to work from home with a knee scooter support) followed by a boot for another 3 weeks and hopefully back to pain free leg use in 3 to 6 months! Now I found myself VERY interested in all the author, Thom Disch, has to offer in this very complete and well written treatise on a subject that has hit too close to home recently. He even covers the insurance and financial side of this topic, a lesson I had to learn firsthand with my wife’s adventure.
Thom engages the reader, a novice on the subject like myself (and you?) in the opening chapters with statistics showing how frequent and dangerous falls really are, for the past 14 years the #1 reason for visits to the ER! While he has done an awesome job researching and reporting on STF (that’s ‘Slips, Trips and Falls’) studies, he adds an extensive analysis and illustrative graphics of his own making to provide a VERY complete treatise on this subject. Every chapter includes references to the source studies and documents for further reading if desired but I didn’t find that necessary given the completeness of his content. Broken into four easy to read and understand sections, this book offers an extensive 26 chapters on WHY, WHERE, the BUSINES SIDE and PREVENTION of STF’s. But I found the most important and empowering aspect of this writing to be the focus in each chapter on suggested actions you can take to reduce the occurrence and degree of injury from STF’s for each chapter’s topic. This includes two final chapters offering an extensive and practical checklist for recommended audits of both home and business environments. The book concludes with a list of the author’s resources on the web, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest offering ongoing support once the reader accepts the challenge of doing something to avoid the STF dangers in our everyday life.
Thom is obviously passionate and an expert on this subject and that makes for enjoyable reading (using a very friendly “I” personal writing style) with many true life story examples in support of the statistics and facts he offers. Of particular note is the author’s ALERT system for reducing fall injuries and deaths. I do hope you find the reading to be more informative and not as related to family and friends actual STF experiences as I just did.
I strongly recommend this reading for everyone, but especially for anyone with aging relatives that are more likely to be victims of STF events with each passing aging year, but as Thom shares, everyone is at risk at any age! And YES, that includes YOU!
Thom engages the reader, a novice on the subject like myself (and you?) in the opening chapters with statistics showing how frequent and dangerous falls really are, for the past 14 years the #1 reason for visits to the ER! While he has done an awesome job researching and reporting on STF (that’s ‘Slips, Trips and Falls’) studies, he adds an extensive analysis and illustrative graphics of his own making to provide a VERY complete treatise on this subject. Every chapter includes references to the source studies and documents for further reading if desired but I didn’t find that necessary given the completeness of his content. Broken into four easy to read and understand sections, this book offers an extensive 26 chapters on WHY, WHERE, the BUSINES SIDE and PREVENTION of STF’s. But I found the most important and empowering aspect of this writing to be the focus in each chapter on suggested actions you can take to reduce the occurrence and degree of injury from STF’s for each chapter’s topic. This includes two final chapters offering an extensive and practical checklist for recommended audits of both home and business environments. The book concludes with a list of the author’s resources on the web, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest offering ongoing support once the reader accepts the challenge of doing something to avoid the STF dangers in our everyday life.
Thom is obviously passionate and an expert on this subject and that makes for enjoyable reading (using a very friendly “I” personal writing style) with many true life story examples in support of the statistics and facts he offers. Of particular note is the author’s ALERT system for reducing fall injuries and deaths. I do hope you find the reading to be more informative and not as related to family and friends actual STF experiences as I just did.
I strongly recommend this reading for everyone, but especially for anyone with aging relatives that are more likely to be victims of STF events with each passing aging year, but as Thom shares, everyone is at risk at any age! And YES, that includes YOU!
January 28, 2018
Stop the Slip by Thom Disch
Did you know that the #1 Cause of Emergency room visits is trips and falls? Me either! This is not an exaggeration. I read books because I like to share information and also to spread the author's words of wisdom. If I learn one thing from a book it is worthy of sharingt. Loolk at the data the author says:
The number of people injured and dying from falls is at record numbers
and the problem is growing. Using data from 2014, compiled from the Centers
for Disease Control database, reveal the true scope of the problem:
• Falls kill three times more people in the United States than firearms
and seven times more people than the flu (see Figure 2.3).
• Falls are the number one reason for emergency room visits every year
(see Chapter 2, “Why Slips, Trips, and Falls Aren’t Taken Seriously”
and Figure 2.2).
• Falls cost the US economy over $150 billion per year in medical costs
and lost wages (see Chapter 19, “The Cost of Slips, Trips, and Falls”).
• Falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injury, resulting in
four times more injuries than sports (see Factoid #2).
12 STOP THE SLIP
• In 2014, falls caused nine million emergency room visits, one million
hospitalizations, and thirty thousand deaths (see Chapter 2, “Why
Slips, Trips, and Falls Aren’t Taken Seriously”).
• Falls aren’t just a problem for the elderly: 25 percent of fall injuries
happen to children and 75 percent happen to people under age 68 (see
Chapter 4, “Age and Falls”).
• Even though we promote fall safety and prevention for our elderly, the
rate at which our elderly die from falls has doubled in the last fifteen
years (see Chapter 24, “The ALERT System for Reducing Fall Injuries
and Deaths”).
Acronym: A-L-E-R-T to remind us of the five steps we can take that will
reduce the number of falls and fall injuries.
A -Awareness is the first and most important step in preventing STF injuries.
Be alert when you’re in higher-risk situations. Create a mental
STF warning system.
L- Learn what you can do to prevent a fall accident. Most fall STF injuries
happen in the places we know the best: our bathroom, our
kitchen, our stairs, and so on. This happens because we’re in our
comfort zone, our guard is down, and we’re not paying attention.
E- Early awareness, early prevention, and early training will lead to
fewer STF injuries for everyone. Fall injuries cause a high percentage
of emergency room visits at all ages. Starting the process of avoiding
a fall when you are younger will reduce the risk of serious fall injuries
when you are older. Start early!
R- React to what you’ve learned. If you see a STF hazard, correct that
it. Do it right when you encounter the risk or problem. Don’t
count on your memory or your ability to react to a STF problem in
the moment.
T- Train your body and improve your balance. Train your mind to be
aware of STF situations. Train your family. Train your friends. Train
your co-workers.
This book is for those that want to find out from Thom Dish how to find
useful digitial tools, new information, breaking true stories, and trends and statistics to help prevent slips and falls.
@ 2018 Jackie Paulson
About the Author
A leading expert and speaker on slip, trip, and fall injuries in the United
States, Thom Disch has been compiling statistics and stories related to this
healthcare crisis for ten years. He is a serial entrepreneur and owns several companies
and nationally known brands, including Handi-Ramp (Handiramp.
com), PetSTEP International (Petstep.com), and Industrial Toolz, Inc.
(IndustrialToolz.com). He has developed dozens of products for the specific
purpose of reducing and preventing slips, trips and falls. These products have
won awards for innovation and many of his designs are patented by the US
Patent and Trademark Office. He has sold millions of dollars of fall prevention
products and solutions to homeowners, businesses and governmental offices.
For more information about these slip, trip and fall prevention products visit
www.stoptheslip.com/products.
Disch holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Oakland University and
a master’s degree in management from Northwestern University.
Did you know that the #1 Cause of Emergency room visits is trips and falls? Me either! This is not an exaggeration. I read books because I like to share information and also to spread the author's words of wisdom. If I learn one thing from a book it is worthy of sharingt. Loolk at the data the author says:
The number of people injured and dying from falls is at record numbers
and the problem is growing. Using data from 2014, compiled from the Centers
for Disease Control database, reveal the true scope of the problem:
• Falls kill three times more people in the United States than firearms
and seven times more people than the flu (see Figure 2.3).
• Falls are the number one reason for emergency room visits every year
(see Chapter 2, “Why Slips, Trips, and Falls Aren’t Taken Seriously”
and Figure 2.2).
• Falls cost the US economy over $150 billion per year in medical costs
and lost wages (see Chapter 19, “The Cost of Slips, Trips, and Falls”).
• Falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injury, resulting in
four times more injuries than sports (see Factoid #2).
12 STOP THE SLIP
• In 2014, falls caused nine million emergency room visits, one million
hospitalizations, and thirty thousand deaths (see Chapter 2, “Why
Slips, Trips, and Falls Aren’t Taken Seriously”).
• Falls aren’t just a problem for the elderly: 25 percent of fall injuries
happen to children and 75 percent happen to people under age 68 (see
Chapter 4, “Age and Falls”).
• Even though we promote fall safety and prevention for our elderly, the
rate at which our elderly die from falls has doubled in the last fifteen
years (see Chapter 24, “The ALERT System for Reducing Fall Injuries
and Deaths”).
Acronym: A-L-E-R-T to remind us of the five steps we can take that will
reduce the number of falls and fall injuries.
A -Awareness is the first and most important step in preventing STF injuries.
Be alert when you’re in higher-risk situations. Create a mental
STF warning system.
L- Learn what you can do to prevent a fall accident. Most fall STF injuries
happen in the places we know the best: our bathroom, our
kitchen, our stairs, and so on. This happens because we’re in our
comfort zone, our guard is down, and we’re not paying attention.
E- Early awareness, early prevention, and early training will lead to
fewer STF injuries for everyone. Fall injuries cause a high percentage
of emergency room visits at all ages. Starting the process of avoiding
a fall when you are younger will reduce the risk of serious fall injuries
when you are older. Start early!
R- React to what you’ve learned. If you see a STF hazard, correct that
it. Do it right when you encounter the risk or problem. Don’t
count on your memory or your ability to react to a STF problem in
the moment.
T- Train your body and improve your balance. Train your mind to be
aware of STF situations. Train your family. Train your friends. Train
your co-workers.
This book is for those that want to find out from Thom Dish how to find
useful digitial tools, new information, breaking true stories, and trends and statistics to help prevent slips and falls.
@ 2018 Jackie Paulson
About the Author
A leading expert and speaker on slip, trip, and fall injuries in the United
States, Thom Disch has been compiling statistics and stories related to this
healthcare crisis for ten years. He is a serial entrepreneur and owns several companies
and nationally known brands, including Handi-Ramp (Handiramp.
com), PetSTEP International (Petstep.com), and Industrial Toolz, Inc.
(IndustrialToolz.com). He has developed dozens of products for the specific
purpose of reducing and preventing slips, trips and falls. These products have
won awards for innovation and many of his designs are patented by the US
Patent and Trademark Office. He has sold millions of dollars of fall prevention
products and solutions to homeowners, businesses and governmental offices.
For more information about these slip, trip and fall prevention products visit
www.stoptheslip.com/products.
Disch holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Oakland University and
a master’s degree in management from Northwestern University.
January 27, 2018
This book is quick and easy to read, with plenty of interesting statistics and charts, and a lot of practical tips. It covers a good breadth of topics related to personal, home and business safety, with an emphasis on prevention. The author includes a lot of references and links to additional resources. I think most people could benefit from this book, for themselves and their family members, or for their organizations.
I've known for a long time that falls are too common, dangerous and costly, both from my work experiences and from my family's experiences. My mother almost died from a fall, and I've seen them affect many people's lives. Still, I was surprised by the statistics-- Falls are the #1 cause of ER visits. Falls cause more injuries and deaths than guns (to which my husband said "there should be laws banning falls then!" The cost of Falls is increasing, etc.
I think it would be very helpful for anyone working in safety, HR, training, management, or maintenance, particularly in manufacturing, hospitals, nursing homes, retail ... actually almost any environment with people! It would also be a useful supplemental book in a college or certificate course on safety management. Even HR, Engineering and Accounting students could use this information, because they may find themselves responsible for their company's safety or risk programs some day. (They would need additional information on OSHA, insurance, training, and org safety techniques).
I was happy to see a chapter on Distracted Walking. Based on the videos passed around on facebook and YouTube, this is a growing problem. We might see more laws passed to protect people from themselves. In the next edition of this book, I suspect the author will be able to add even more stats and legal updates to this chapter.
You might argue that some of the information in this book is just common sense, but as many have found, common sense just isn't very common. The section on shoes was funny and personally relevant. (FYI, leather soles are not good on the dance floor). Having seen numerous videos of models falling on the runway, I wish fashion designers would pay more attention to safety. Some retailers and buyers are more aware (I had a list once).
I liked the references and links to additional resources. Many of the charts would be great as powerpoints for classes to improve safety awareness or for presentations to justify a new program. It would be cool if they were on the website. For the next edition, I suggest adding more on aged related falls and prevention. Some physical therapists have fall prevention programs that include a home audit and vestibular balance evaluations, along with traditional physical therapy. I would also add a little more on organizational safety management tips and how to create a strong safety culture, but I could be biased since that's close to my field. (Feel free to contact me.)
I won this book in a GoodReads giveaway. I thought it might be a good resource for a client who is in charge of safety for her company, but now I think I need to keep it for the safety of my family.
I've known for a long time that falls are too common, dangerous and costly, both from my work experiences and from my family's experiences. My mother almost died from a fall, and I've seen them affect many people's lives. Still, I was surprised by the statistics-- Falls are the #1 cause of ER visits. Falls cause more injuries and deaths than guns (to which my husband said "there should be laws banning falls then!" The cost of Falls is increasing, etc.
I think it would be very helpful for anyone working in safety, HR, training, management, or maintenance, particularly in manufacturing, hospitals, nursing homes, retail ... actually almost any environment with people! It would also be a useful supplemental book in a college or certificate course on safety management. Even HR, Engineering and Accounting students could use this information, because they may find themselves responsible for their company's safety or risk programs some day. (They would need additional information on OSHA, insurance, training, and org safety techniques).
I was happy to see a chapter on Distracted Walking. Based on the videos passed around on facebook and YouTube, this is a growing problem. We might see more laws passed to protect people from themselves. In the next edition of this book, I suspect the author will be able to add even more stats and legal updates to this chapter.
You might argue that some of the information in this book is just common sense, but as many have found, common sense just isn't very common. The section on shoes was funny and personally relevant. (FYI, leather soles are not good on the dance floor). Having seen numerous videos of models falling on the runway, I wish fashion designers would pay more attention to safety. Some retailers and buyers are more aware (I had a list once).
I liked the references and links to additional resources. Many of the charts would be great as powerpoints for classes to improve safety awareness or for presentations to justify a new program. It would be cool if they were on the website. For the next edition, I suggest adding more on aged related falls and prevention. Some physical therapists have fall prevention programs that include a home audit and vestibular balance evaluations, along with traditional physical therapy. I would also add a little more on organizational safety management tips and how to create a strong safety culture, but I could be biased since that's close to my field. (Feel free to contact me.)
I won this book in a GoodReads giveaway. I thought it might be a good resource for a client who is in charge of safety for her company, but now I think I need to keep it for the safety of my family.
November 21, 2017
This book will make you more aware of how vulnerable we are all to slips, trips, and falls. Many slips, trips, and falls can result in serious health consequences, with the life you once enjoyed being gone forever. Falls are the leading injury related cause of ER visits. I think if doctors mentioned this to their patients during routine physicals it would be a step in the right direction to help prevent becoming a victim to the slip, trip, and fall. Awareness is key.
January 26, 2018
Stop the Sip: Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls by Thom Disch
When I was asked to read and review this book I said yes not because this is a topic I just can’t get enough of. I said yes because my mother who lives with us has had several falls. Two years ago she fell just three days after I got home from a rehab facility where I had been recuperating from double knee replacement. The root that tripped her was smaller than one-eighth inch in diameter.
According to the author falls are often seen as humorous, until it happens to you. Studies show that there are more falls among the young due to the fact that the older people try to be more careful because of the high risk of injury.
The author also gave excellent advice for reducing the risk of falls and injuries. Footwear has been one of the major causes of slips. People prefer to look fashionable instead of worrying about safety by wearing shoes that may be less fashionable and yet safer.
The author not only gives us authentic situations in which we can see ourselves and others. He gives tips for preventing some of these slips and falls. Some of them seem common sense. Some of them are things we never think about. How many people think about the possibility causing them to slip or fall? Very few. We see our pets as our companions. A co-worker of mine fell two days ago, tripped up by her dog. She ended up in the ER. Some things can be prevented if we pay closer attention when we walk. Several years ago while walking to our school’s office I stepped on the metal surrounding our outdoor mat and flipped my ankle breaking it. I was in a rush and not paying attention to where I was walking. I actually had a book in my hand. This is distracted walking. It cost me eight week in a wheelchair.
The author has provided several resources to help you. One of those is a home Audit checklist. This is a valuable book. The information provided could save a life or prevent a fall. I am recommending this book to everyone because slip and fall is not an older person’s problem. It is an every person problem.
When I was asked to read and review this book I said yes not because this is a topic I just can’t get enough of. I said yes because my mother who lives with us has had several falls. Two years ago she fell just three days after I got home from a rehab facility where I had been recuperating from double knee replacement. The root that tripped her was smaller than one-eighth inch in diameter.
According to the author falls are often seen as humorous, until it happens to you. Studies show that there are more falls among the young due to the fact that the older people try to be more careful because of the high risk of injury.
The author also gave excellent advice for reducing the risk of falls and injuries. Footwear has been one of the major causes of slips. People prefer to look fashionable instead of worrying about safety by wearing shoes that may be less fashionable and yet safer.
The author not only gives us authentic situations in which we can see ourselves and others. He gives tips for preventing some of these slips and falls. Some of them seem common sense. Some of them are things we never think about. How many people think about the possibility causing them to slip or fall? Very few. We see our pets as our companions. A co-worker of mine fell two days ago, tripped up by her dog. She ended up in the ER. Some things can be prevented if we pay closer attention when we walk. Several years ago while walking to our school’s office I stepped on the metal surrounding our outdoor mat and flipped my ankle breaking it. I was in a rush and not paying attention to where I was walking. I actually had a book in my hand. This is distracted walking. It cost me eight week in a wheelchair.
The author has provided several resources to help you. One of those is a home Audit checklist. This is a valuable book. The information provided could save a life or prevent a fall. I am recommending this book to everyone because slip and fall is not an older person’s problem. It is an every person problem.
January 30, 2018
A must read for everyone
This was a very engaging and enlightening read. While slips, trips and falls aren't defined as a disorder or disease, they certainly account for all too many instances of bodily harm and even accidental death. The author did a masterful job of pulling together extensive statistics, experiences, awareness, preventative measures and solutions to slipping, tripping and falling. It's a book everyone should read- without exception. It made me take account of my own surroundings and consider some safety changes. I found myself identifying obstacles around me that I never considered before. Great job, Thom! I believe this book could save its readers from tragedy.
This was a very engaging and enlightening read. While slips, trips and falls aren't defined as a disorder or disease, they certainly account for all too many instances of bodily harm and even accidental death. The author did a masterful job of pulling together extensive statistics, experiences, awareness, preventative measures and solutions to slipping, tripping and falling. It's a book everyone should read- without exception. It made me take account of my own surroundings and consider some safety changes. I found myself identifying obstacles around me that I never considered before. Great job, Thom! I believe this book could save its readers from tragedy.
November 27, 2017
Why would anyone want to read a whole book about slips, trips, and falls? According to author Thom Disch, slips, trips, and falls (STF) accounted for nine million emergency room visits in 2014. Does that answer the question?
Stop the Slip has three aspects. First, there is fascinating, well-documented, and somewhat alarming information on how much damage STFs do to individuals, society, and the economy. Second, it is certainly a motivational call to act to minimize STFs. Third, it lists actions people can take to protect themselves, their families, and their workplaces. It includes recommendations of products (some of which Disch and his company make) to make the home and work environment safer. It is the kind of book that made me stop frequently to say to my long-suffering spouse. “ Hey, honey, did you know ______?”
Although it is short enough and interesting enough to read from beginning to end, Disch has tried to make each section of the book self-sustaining, so there is some overlap of information and statistics for those who really only want to look up one subcategory, such as Stairs and Handrails or The Business Side of Slips, Trips, and Falls.
Stop the Slip would be an especially helpful resource for families trying to make a home more appropriate for an older family member, but Disch’s book is full of real-life stories of serious STFs affecting all ages. Even young and healthy people can suffer serious or even fatal injuries; 75 percent of STFs happen to people under age 68, and 25 percent of them happen to children.
The morning after I finished Stop the Slip I created a minor spill while cooking and immediately got a cloth to wipe it up. It made me think: when I read a book like Stop the Slip I sometimes muse that it was interesting and informative, but will it really cause me to change my behavior? Maybe it already has!
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author with a request for an honest review.,
Stop the Slip has three aspects. First, there is fascinating, well-documented, and somewhat alarming information on how much damage STFs do to individuals, society, and the economy. Second, it is certainly a motivational call to act to minimize STFs. Third, it lists actions people can take to protect themselves, their families, and their workplaces. It includes recommendations of products (some of which Disch and his company make) to make the home and work environment safer. It is the kind of book that made me stop frequently to say to my long-suffering spouse. “ Hey, honey, did you know ______?”
Although it is short enough and interesting enough to read from beginning to end, Disch has tried to make each section of the book self-sustaining, so there is some overlap of information and statistics for those who really only want to look up one subcategory, such as Stairs and Handrails or The Business Side of Slips, Trips, and Falls.
Stop the Slip would be an especially helpful resource for families trying to make a home more appropriate for an older family member, but Disch’s book is full of real-life stories of serious STFs affecting all ages. Even young and healthy people can suffer serious or even fatal injuries; 75 percent of STFs happen to people under age 68, and 25 percent of them happen to children.
The morning after I finished Stop the Slip I created a minor spill while cooking and immediately got a cloth to wipe it up. It made me think: when I read a book like Stop the Slip I sometimes muse that it was interesting and informative, but will it really cause me to change my behavior? Maybe it already has!
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author with a request for an honest review.,
January 8, 2018
I’m Really Glad I Read This Book!
I was given the chance to read this book by the author and offer my honest review, which follows.
The premise of this book as the title suggests is how to avoid slips, trips and falls. We all slip, trip and fall throughout our life, mostly unaware of the dangers ahead. If we’re lucky, we get back up and continue on our way, soon forgetting about it. We’ll often chalk it up to being inattentive or clumsy. The author is Thom Disch, a well regarded expert on this subject who shares with the reader his vast knowledge while including charts, graphs and statistics. He includes anecdotal stories of everyday people and famous celebrities who fall and then he offers steps they could have taken to avoid the situation from occurring. The book includes a chapter titled Home Audit Checklist which details how the reader can do a walk through each room in the home and look for potential safety hazards and how to correct them. The final chapter, Business Audit Checklist, has a checklist to reduce STF injuries in the work environment.
This book is a must read for young and old and everyone in between to give people the knowledge to avoid injury from falls throughout their life. I will keep my copy handy to refer back to it. I am now following Stop the Slip on Facebook and Twitter.
I was given the chance to read this book by the author and offer my honest review, which follows.
The premise of this book as the title suggests is how to avoid slips, trips and falls. We all slip, trip and fall throughout our life, mostly unaware of the dangers ahead. If we’re lucky, we get back up and continue on our way, soon forgetting about it. We’ll often chalk it up to being inattentive or clumsy. The author is Thom Disch, a well regarded expert on this subject who shares with the reader his vast knowledge while including charts, graphs and statistics. He includes anecdotal stories of everyday people and famous celebrities who fall and then he offers steps they could have taken to avoid the situation from occurring. The book includes a chapter titled Home Audit Checklist which details how the reader can do a walk through each room in the home and look for potential safety hazards and how to correct them. The final chapter, Business Audit Checklist, has a checklist to reduce STF injuries in the work environment.
This book is a must read for young and old and everyone in between to give people the knowledge to avoid injury from falls throughout their life. I will keep my copy handy to refer back to it. I am now following Stop the Slip on Facebook and Twitter.
April 8, 2018
An informative book...a must read for everyone. This is vital information!
January 6, 2018
Interesting facts: falls are the number one cause of ER visits in the US, and you’re three times more likely to die from a fall injury than a firearm injury. While this doesn’t mean that we should stop our efforts to prevent firearm injuries, it does call for more attention to preventing needless injury and death from falls—mostly in the home.
Stop the Slip: Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls by Thom Disch addresses this pervasive, but little discussed, problem, with statistics and preventive measures that anyone can understand and apply. Everything from addressing clutter around your home to more intelligent selection of footwear is covered in this chilling book. Fall-proof yourself today with this handy guide.
I received a free copy of this book.
Stop the Slip: Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls by Thom Disch addresses this pervasive, but little discussed, problem, with statistics and preventive measures that anyone can understand and apply. Everything from addressing clutter around your home to more intelligent selection of footwear is covered in this chilling book. Fall-proof yourself today with this handy guide.
I received a free copy of this book.
December 30, 2017
Stop the Slip (trip, fall)
Thom Disch has written a comprehensive book on safety from falling. I think he must have been an insurance adjuster, or he's just extremely good at research. There are a lot of data in this book, "Stop the Slip", but it is for your own good. His tips will help you to be safer at home and at work. If you own a business, this will help to keep your customers safer. Disch backs up his book with a wide reaching social media platform and even sells products to help with your safety efforts. I learned a lot through reading this book and think it should be required reading for health professionals, daycare workers, and business owners.
Thom Disch has written a comprehensive book on safety from falling. I think he must have been an insurance adjuster, or he's just extremely good at research. There are a lot of data in this book, "Stop the Slip", but it is for your own good. His tips will help you to be safer at home and at work. If you own a business, this will help to keep your customers safer. Disch backs up his book with a wide reaching social media platform and even sells products to help with your safety efforts. I learned a lot through reading this book and think it should be required reading for health professionals, daycare workers, and business owners.
December 6, 2017
I won this book on Goodreads. I decided that although I normally read the books I win on Goodreads in the order they come I had better read this one right away. I am a 65 year old woman who has fallen at least 5 times in the last six months. No serious injuries thank goodness. This book has statistics on falling that will surprise you. It gives wonderful advice on preventing falls. It gives examples of people ( whom you wouldn't think would fall) falling and the resulting injuries, in some cases very serious including death. I think everyone should read this book- no matter how old you are.
December 1, 2017
Having just finished this book, I walked around the house and yard looking for some of the hazards listed. This is a pretty much common sense view of slips and falls and how to prevent them but it did make me aware of several areas to "fix" in my home.
Also being of an age where falls are more likely I realize that I must do some physical training to keep up my strength. Thanks, Mr. Disch for making me more aware and to try to "stop the slip"
Also being of an age where falls are more likely I realize that I must do some physical training to keep up my strength. Thanks, Mr. Disch for making me more aware and to try to "stop the slip"
November 17, 2017
I won this book from Goodreads, If you like statistics, you are going to love this book as it is full of them regarding falls and the causes. It also has some very good advice about how to avoid them.
December 5, 2017
Well researched and informative.
May 23, 2018
Stop The Slip
This is a helpful and well written book on the dangers of slip, trips and falls and says to help prevent them. According to Center of Disease Control and Prevention slips, trips and falls cost US. Economy over $172 Billion in 2013. Thousands of studies have looked at the problem. The author has sorted through the data and related it to everyday life. This is not just a problem for the elderly either. The author gives helpful ideas to prevent falls. A worth While read!
This is a helpful and well written book on the dangers of slip, trips and falls and says to help prevent them. According to Center of Disease Control and Prevention slips, trips and falls cost US. Economy over $172 Billion in 2013. Thousands of studies have looked at the problem. The author has sorted through the data and related it to everyday life. This is not just a problem for the elderly either. The author gives helpful ideas to prevent falls. A worth While read!
March 30, 2018
I read this for obvious reasons. While the factoids are moderately interesting, the only real advice is to be more aware and improve balance with exercise and training.
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