I’ll join the “Fall+ER” team.
While I was in my 80’s when this happened just before the pandemic, my fall wasn’t age-related, just a simple “dumb ass - wasn’t thinking.”
We had a typical Spring storm pass through while the oak tree in the front yard was sending out pollen buds - that look like little worms. My slightly uphill walk to the house was covered with them as well as the sidewalk.
So I grabbed a rake and started ranking them down from the house towards the sidewalk - walking backwards. Was making good progress but forgot about the two steps in the walk. So when I stepped back, there wasn’t a landing ground. When right foot hit the step I twisted around trying to regain balance and hit the grass. But only succeeded in planting my swinging left leg while plunging forward. Made a perfect three point landing just before the street curb - left forehead, left elbow, and left knee. I clearly recall just before landing thinking this isn’t going to be good.
Didn’t knock me out - thank goodness - or only briefly stunned at most. But I saw my shattered eye glasses and felt blood rushing down my face. Got my handkerchief out, covered the split over my left eye and staggered back to the house calling for my wife. She set me down, handed me a handful of Kleenex to replace the soaked handkerchief, and called our daughter. Got me to the emergency room. They took me in quickly - apparently didn’t want me upsetting the others waiting their turn as I continued to bleed pretty good.
CT’s scans were clear, brought in a nice lady doctor who cleaned and closed my cut with 14 stitches. Fortunately, it was a horizontal cut, so just looks like a deeper wrinkle today. Few people notice it.
I was extremely fortunate that I didn’t crack my skull, injure my elbow, or damage my knee. No concussion, my thinking remained clear and I was calm during it all. I’m legal guardian and caregiver for my wife and was able to resume my normal duties. Looked like the fife playing patriot from the revolutionary war cartoon except for two black eyes and a bigger bandage. Entire left side was bruised pretty good but that passed. Took under a week.
Neighbor came over and used hose to clean off the sidewalk blood my wife said. I later measured the distance from my takeoff point to landing strip. 15 feet, so I had some momentum.
Since then, I’ve “walked scared.” Pay a lot of attention to where I’m stepping and look for roots, carpet edges, etc. Lift my feet higher when stepping than I used to do. Careful stepping down even street curbs.
Falls aren’t fun for anyone - especially old folks.