Do you ever feel light-headed or dizzy when you start down a flight of stairs or stand up after sitting for a while?

 Maybe you’re on new medications or you have on a pair of glasses with a new prescription. Whatever the reason, stop for a moment, get your bearings, hold onto the stair rail or the chair or even sit again until the dizziness passes. If you don’t, you could take a nasty fall.

Here are some pretty frightening statistics concerning falls.

In our country, more than one-third of adults 65 and older fall each year. Between 20 and 30 percent suffer moderate to severe injuries such as bruises, hip fractures or head trauma. People 75 and older who fall are four to five times more likely to be admitted to a long-term care facility for a year or longer after injury. Costs related to falls among older adults in Napa Valley reached $17 million in 2004.

More frightening statistics: More than 40 percent of people hospitalized from hip fractures do not return home and are not capable of living independently again. On average, two older adults die from fall-related injuries every day in California.

Scary stuff, don’t you agree? Here are ideas for preventing falls. The first thing to think about is, how safe is your home environment?

 Since half of all falls happen in the home, here are some tips:

• Remove anything you could trip over (books, clothes and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.

• Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping.

• Keep items you use often in cabinets you can reach easily without using a step stool.

• Have grab bars put in next to your toilet and in the tub or shower.

• Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.

• Improve the lighting in your home. Hang lightweight curtains or shades to reduce glare.

• Have handrails and lights put in all staircases.

• Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers.

Physical activity that maintains and strengthens balance and mobility is next. It’s important to maintain a regular exercise program. Lack of exercise leads to weakness and increases our chances of falling.

• Exercises that improve balance and coordination (such as tai chi) are the most helpful.

• Review the medications and supplements you are currently taking with your doctor or pharmacist to reduce side-effects.

• Have your eyes checked at least once a year.

OK, let’s say you get unlucky and you do take a fall. Stay on the floor for a moment and make sure your head has stopped spinning. When it does, gently lift your head and look around for an object you can use to pull yourself up. Slowly get on all fours, crawl over to the chair, sofa or whatever and bring yourself to a standing position.

That should cover all bases. The important thing to remember is to use good common sense, don’t rush, check your surroundings and be aware of any obstacles.

The Senior Center Activity Center, 1800 Jefferson St. in Napa, 255-1800, offers a class called Strength & Balance on Wednesdays from 8:15-9:15 a.m. I hope to see you there.

Senior Corner appears every other Monday, alternating with Jim Ford’s Napa As It Was. Betty can be reached at bettyrrhodes@sbcglobal.net.