11/11/2019 / By Grace Olson
Getting a hip fracture in a relatively peaceful time is already bad news, but getting one during or after a disaster is much worse. Medical help may no longer be available, and you could become more vulnerable to diseases and safety risks. This is especially the case for women and older people. (h/t to Survivopedia.com)
A hip fracture refers to a break in the upper thighbone (femur) below the hip joint. When it breaks, it exponentially increases the risk of death. Women are twice more likely to get hip fractures than men.
Older adults are the most vulnerable – bones tend to grow weaker with age, making them more prone to fractures. Along with other conditions like vision and balance problems, tripping or falling is exceedingly dangerous.
Among seniors, around 33 percent of those older than 50 die within 12 months of getting a hip fracture. These numbers inevitably rise when disaster strikes.
If any of your family members exhibit the following, make sure to have it checked:
Aside from age, here are other risk factors of hip fracture:
People suffering a hip fracture are incapacitated. They are bedridden for months, and around half of them lose the ability to live independently.
In a survival scenario, this is a big problem. Unless you have a bug out location, you have to extend camping in one area for an extended period of time. If the place is not safe, it leaves you vulnerable to many threats.
Aside from not being able to move, other complications can also develop, including:
At this point, surgery may be the only viable treatment for hip fracture. When SHTF, it’s highly unlikely that medical facilities are still operational.
Preventing hip fracture is better than treating one. While you can’t account for all scenarios, such as car accidents, there are ways for you and your family members to reduce the risk of getting a hip fracture:
Different seniors have varying levels of strength and overall health. There are old people who can still lift weights and jog every morning. There are also seniors who have difficulty seeing and walking.
As a prepper, you must consider the needs of the senior members of your family.
If an older adult is living with you or near you, preparing for emergencies may be easier. Here are some things you need to consider:
If the senior members of your family are living in another place (like another state), do the following:
Seniors in nursing homes are at risk because not many people can immediately help them in an emergency. Here are some things that you can do to help ensure their safety:
On top of all these preparations, you must help your senior family members pursue a healthier lifestyle. That is their best defense from hip fracture and other possible injuries.
Sources include:
Tagged Under: aging, bone health, elders, emergency, emergency medicine, first aid, Fractures, hip fracture, how to, longevity, preparedness, prepping, prevention, seniors, SHTF, stopsmoking, survival, survivalist
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