Did you know that falls are the leading cause of "injury deaths" for adults aged 65 and older? And that falls are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospitalization due to trauma?

Nationally, thousands of older adults fall each year from hazards that can be prevented. In 2003, more than 13,700 adults 65 or older died of fall-related injuries. In 2004, 14,900 adults in this age group died from injuries related to unintentional falls. And in both 2003 and 2004, about 1.8 million were treated in emergency rooms for nonfatal injuries related to falls.

The cost associated with falls amounts to billions of dollars. In 2000, the total direct cost for falls among seniors was about $19 billion. By the year 2020, the cost of falls is expected to reach $43.8 billion, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Georgia, the aging population is one of the most significanttrends affecting the state. Georgia has the ninth fastest growing 60-plus population and the 18th fastest growing 85-plus population in the United States.

Georgia's population aged 60 and older is expected to increase 62.5 percent between 1990 and 2010. Those 85 and older are by far the fastest growing age group, and will increase by 114.6 percent by 2010. So the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services (DAS) is urging older adults to practice safety to prevent their risk of falling.

"We encourage older individuals, at risk adults, persons with disabilities, and their families to use safety precautions to avoid falls," said Maria Greene, Director of the DAS.