What injuries can you get from falling from a height?
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What injuries can you get from falling from a height?
The most common injuries were fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine (83.0\%) with a preference for the thoracolumbar junction. Fracture of the lower limbs occurred in 45\%. The most frequent injuries were fractures of the os calcis (64.4\%) and the ankle joint (26.6\%).
What happens to your body after a fall?
Depending on how quickly your fall occurs, your body releases a surge of adrenaline when you first start to lose control and you begin to panic. Once the fall is underway, your body braces for impact by tensing your muscles and extending your arms or legs.
At what height do you need fall protection?
OSHA requires that fall protection be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in longshoring operations.
What happens when someone falls from a great height?
A fall from a great height can disconnect the aorta – the largest blood vessel pumping blood – from the heart. The heart may then continue to beat and distribute blood into the body cavity, but this only continues for a few seconds.
How do you know if a fall is serious?
Symptoms of a Potential Fall Injury
- Severe or lingering pain.
- Headaches.
- Obvious swelling.
- Ringing in the ears.
- Bruising.
- Loss of balance.
- Dizziness.
- Back pain.
How high can you fall without breaking a bone?
When you do it properly, you can land safely from 5–6 feet of the ground (as long as you don’t land on your heels). This is not a landing you’d want to do from heights because it doesn’t dissipate enough energy to keep your joints and bones safes.
When would someone falling become a cause for concern?
Falling becomes a cause for concern when someone who suffered an earlier head injury notices a sudden change in how they feel. For example, a head injury that leads to constant headaches might be more serious than they thought if a person feels sudden sharp headache pain where there was none before.