title: Older Adult Falls Seen by Emergency Medical Service Providers: A Prevention Opportunity.
abstract: Among people aged ≥65 years, falling is the leading cause of emergency department visits. Emergency medical services (EMS) are often called to help older adults who have fallen, with some requiring hospital transport. Chief aims were to determine where falls occurred and the circumstances under which patients were transported by EMS, and to identify future fall prevention opportunities.
  
  
  
  In 2012, a total of 42 states contributed ambulatory data to the National EMS Information System, which were analyzed in 2014 and 2015. Using EMS records from 911 call events, logistic regression examined patient and environmental factors associated with older adult transport.
  
  
  
  Among people aged ≥65 years, falls accounted for 17% of all EMS calls. More than one in five (21%) of these emergency 911 calls did not result in a transport. Most falls occurred at home (60.2%) and residential institutions such as nursing homes (21.7%). Logistic regression showed AORs for transport were greatest among people aged ≥85 years (AOR=1.14, 95% CI=1.13, 1.16) and women (AOR=1.30, 95% CI=1.29, 1.32); for falls at residential institutions or nursing homes (AOR=3.52, 95% CI=3.46, 3.58) and in rural environments (AOR=1.15, 95% CI=1.13, 1.17); and where the EMS impression was a stroke (AOR=2.96, 95% CI=2.11, 4.10), followed by hypothermia (AOR=2.36, 95% CI=1.33, 4.43).
  
  
  
  This study provides unique insight into fall circumstances and EMS transport activity. EMS personnel are in a prime position to provide interventions that can prevent future falls, or referrals to community-based fall prevention programs and services.
authors: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: mfaul@cdc.gov.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Faul
authors: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Judy A
authors: JA
authors: Stevens
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Greenville Health System, Greenville, South Carolina.
authors: Scott M
authors: SM
authors: Sasser
authors: Section of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Alee
authors: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Angela J
authors: AJ
authors: Deokar
authors: Division of Acute Care Surgery, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada.
authors: Deborah A
authors: DA
authors: Kuhls
authors: Section of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Peter A
authors: PA
authors: Burke
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors