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Statistically, a great deal of accidents happen at home. I know this because they’ve happened to me.
A few months ago, I fell down four steps on our stairway at our home. After evaluating my condition and realizing I needed ice not an ambulance, my husband helped me get up off the floor. He had previously been on his way to the laundry room to do laundry.
After I got up, he stated that it was my fault because I was not paying attention while going down the steps. I was angry at him and was throwing dirty laundry at the back of his head when I wiped out, so he’s right, but that’s beside the point, nevertheless, I had become another statistic.
Everyday chores result in hospital stays that could have been prevented had a little more attention been applied to the situation.
For starters, my friend who’s a senior citizen fell while showering because she hiked her leg up to wash her foot. For cryin’ out loud, she loses her balance on porous, dry ground on any given day, add soap and water to the mix and she becomes an insurance nightmare. On top of that, she suffers from vertigo – good Lord. I told her that’s why sponge baths were created, so go buy a sponge.
We had a neighbor who blew up his entire house. The cops said he was “cooking” again. Apparently, they’ve been to his house before – but what kind of meal do ya have to make to do that kind of damage? This is why I stay away from making Cherry’s Flambe.
A friend’s kid backed into a tree along their driveway, which set off the airbags breaking his nose and punching out a front tooth. The tree had to be removed, and junior got a ticket. He did only have his learner’s permit at the time, but it would have been nice if all the “points” he received on his driver’s license would have given him money off toward gas purchases, but no such luck.
I used a large round disk made for sliding heavy furniture around to show a neighbor’s little girl how to pirouette. She just started taking ballet, and I thought I’d show her how fast she could turn around in circles – a common ballet move.
Anyway, the disk flew out from under my foot, hitting her in the eye and causing me to hit the floor as if I’d been punched by a good boxer. I was laid up for a week and the 4-year-old quit ballet. Perhaps a decent product warning on the package would have been helpful.
My aunt took her home safety to the extreme by moving into a hotel down the street.
Anngee Quinones-Belian lives in Murphy. Her column runs every other week. Email her at anngeeq@gmail.com.