3 Habits to Start to Help You Prevent Future Injuries

3 Habits to Start to Help You Prevent Future Injuries


3 Habits to Start to Help You Prevent Future Injuries

Injuries from slips, falls, and car accidents can happen in an instant but are often preventable with some simple habits, yet despite this, 46k people died in falls at home or work in a year. In that same period of time, the death rate in car accidents was 1.5 per 10,000 vehicles.

Unless you never leave your bedroom, accidents are inevitable. According to Keith Belt, a renowned personal injury lawyer in Alabama, we cannot predict accidents or personal injuries, but even if minor accidents and injuries will likely still happen, reducing frequency and severity through these habits will lead to a better quality of life. Here are 3 key habits you can start now to help prevent future injuries.


  1. Increase Your Awareness to Prevent Injuries
    Increasing your awareness of your surroundings is one of the most important habits for injury prevention. This applies both at home and out in public settings.

    At home, take the time to notice potential hazards and either remove them or point them out to others. Look for things like clutter on the stairs, throw rugs without non-slip backing, slippery bathtubs, poor lighting in stairwells, and any other hazards that could lead to a fall. One million people visit the ER because of falls each year.

    When you're out and about, make it a habit to actively scan your surroundings. Watch where you are walking and avoid distractions like cell phones. Be extra vigilant in settings like parking lots and crosswalks where slipping or collisions are more likely. If you notice any unsafe conditions, like uneven pavement or snow/ice buildup, make a point to avoid those areas or report the issue.

    Making awareness an ongoing habit will help you identify risks before an injury occurs.

  2. Improve Your Balance, Avoid Slip-and-Fall Accidents
    Poor balance exponentially increases your chances of falling and getting injured. Seniors are particularly vulnerable, with 30% of adults aged 65 falling each year. You can improve your balance through regular exercise that challenges your core muscles and sense of equilibrium.

    Try adding Tai Chi, yoga, or balance-focused Pilates to your weekly routine. These controlled movements strengthen stabilizer muscles and improve your body's ability to catch yourself if you lose your balance. Also, aim to walk more on a daily basis - walking naturally forces you to engage your core and continuously adjust to maintain balance.

    You can further improve your balance by ensuring you have your vision and inner ear checked annually. Deficits in sight or vertigo can impair balance and lead to falls if left unaddressed.

    Making balance-challenging exercises and checks part of your regular health routine will help minimize future fall risks.

  3. Practice Defensive Driving
    Defensive driving habits minimize the chances of a collision or accident when behind the wheel. Make scanning, signaling, slowing down, and spatial awareness part of your driving habits.

    Get into the habit of frequently checking your mirrors and blind spots to be aware of other vehicles around you at all times. Use your signals religiously, even when you don't see anyone around, so other motorists can anticipate your moves.

    When driving in bad weather or tricky conditions, proactively slow down. It gives you extra time to react and stops you from relying on your brakes.

    Be aware of how close you are to other cars, bikes, and pedestrians. Keep a safe following distance and spatial buffer so you have time to stop suddenly if needed.

    Making defensive driving second nature will help you stay focused on accident avoidance and prevent injuries to yourself and others on the road. Talk to a personal injury lawyer if another driver is at fault for your accident.

    Minor slips and accidents will likely still happen, but reducing frequency and severity through these habits will lead to fewer injuries over your lifetime.