Taking safety precautions for vertigo

How can you make your environment safer?

You can make your home safer by:

• Eliminating throw rugs and using non-skid mats.
• Installing grab bars near the bathtub and toilet.
• Using night-lights.
• Keeping floors dry to prevent slipping.
• Storing household items on low shelves to eliminate the need to climb or reach high. If climbing is essential, use a step stool with handrails.
• Keeping driveways, sidewalks, and interior walkways clear of anything that might cause you to trip.

Personal tips that can help prevent injury during an episode of vertigo include:

• Avoid driving or working at heights.
• Wear shoes with low heels and non-slip soles.
• Keep your shoes tied.
• Alert family and friends to your condition and how they can help during an attack of vertigo.
• Know whether medications you take can affect your sense of balance.

Print out the following safety checklists, write the date on each one, and check all items that you can. Do this once a month to see how you are progressing with making your home environment safe. Try to get all items checked.

• Use the checklist for personal considerations to be prepared for an episode of vertigo. Make sure someone else knows about your vertigo and avoiding driving when having an episode. See the checklist for personal considerations(What is a PDF document?).
• Use the home environment checklist to keep your home free from clutter and obstacles that could cause you to fall during an episode of vertigo. See the checklist for the home environment(What is a PDF document?)
• Use the bathroom and kitchen checklist to help prevent injuries in the bathroom and kitchen. See the checklist for the bathroom and kitchen(What is a PDF document?).

Test Your Knowledge

1. A precaution you can take to make your environment safe if you have vertigo is:

1. Not using throw rugs.
2. Keeping a light on at night.
3. Keeping your sidewalk clear.

2. A precaution you can take if you have vertigo is:

1. Understanding the side effects of your medications and whether they affect your balance.
2. Wearing socks with no shoes in the house.

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Author:	Douglas Dana Sabra L. Katz-Wise Ralph Poore	Last Updated: January 11, 2007
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Barrie J. Hurwitz, MD - Neurology Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine
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