Elderly Person Exits Vehicle Into Path of Oncoming Traffic, Suffers Fatal Injuries - Elderly female passenger exits vehicle unintentionally and is struck by following automobile
In a shocking incident reported by the police, an elderly woman sustained serious injuries after being run over by her own car in Ketsch, Rhein-Neckar district, on Friday. The woman, aged 70, was noticed lying near the border with Rhineland-Palatinate after her car rolled backwards over her.
According to eyewitness accounts, the woman had fallen out of her vehicle, but the exact reason for her fall remains unclear. The eyewitness stopped the car after noticing the incident and immediately called for help. Paramedics arrived at the scene and transported the woman to the hospital for treatment.
Investigators are now involved in the case, and the police have launched an investigation into the incident. The woman was reported to have sustained a broken arm in the accident.
This incident serves as a reminder of the risks that elderly people face when getting in or out of cars. Common causes for such falls include difficulty due to low seats or reduced leg strength, muscle weakness, problems with walking, poor eyesight, medication side effects like dizziness, and environmental hazards like poor lighting or slippery surfaces.
To prevent such incidents, safety measures can be implemented. These include providing assistance during vehicle entry and exit, using assistive devices like walkers or canes, vehicle modifications like adding grab bars or ensuring higher and more accessible seats, regular exercise to improve muscle strength, balance, and bone density, a medication review to identify those that might cause dizziness or imbalance, and environmental adjustments like ensuring adequate lighting and removing clutter or hazards in the areas where vehicles are parked.
In settings like nursing homes, additional measures include adequate staffing for assistance, fall risk assessments, the use of grab bars and bed rails, and a timely response to residents' needs to prevent falls when moving to and from vehicles or wheelchairs.
These approaches collectively address both the physical challenges elderly people face and the environmental risks that contribute to falling out of cars and other falls. It is crucial to prioritise safety measures to protect the elderly and prevent such tragic incidents.
The community policy may need to be revised to include safety measures for the elderly when getting in and out of cars, such as providing assistance during vehicle entry and exit. The employment policy in nursing homes could be updated to ensure adequate staffing for assistance, fall risk assessments, and the use of grab bars and bed rails. Science and health-and-wellness professionals can collaborate to develop strategies for improving muscle strength, balance, and bone density as part of an employment policy focused on preventing accidents and promoting the well-being of the elderly population.
