Elevators could reduce falls at airports
April 23, 2012, 09:57 am
A recent study conducted by researchers at Boston Medical Center showed that diverting passengers to elevators rather than escalators could reduce the number of falls occurring at airports. Another way to keep airports and flights safer is by investing in pilot insurance.
The study was performed out of BMC's Injury Prevention Center, and revealed one fall requiring first responder emergency medical services response occurs every 56 hours at Boston Logan International Airport, 37 percent of these falls involve transport to a hospital. Supported by the Massachusetts Port Authority and Massport Fire/Rescue, the study suggested that diverting at-risk passengers to elevators rather than escalators as they make their way through the airport could significantly reduce the number of falls. In response to the findings, Massport devised and implemented an action plan to reduce the number of falls at Logan Airport.
Logan Airport is the nineteenth busiest airport in the United States and is New England's largest transport center. In 2011, Logan Airport served 28,900,000 passengers, marking an all-time high number of passengers and a 5 percent increase from 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration reported.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that falls are the leading cause of injury death among senior citizens over the age of 65, as well as the most common cause of non-fatal injuries for the age group. About half of all falls for older adults occur at home, but a significant proportion take place in public buildings such as airports.
The researchers analyzed reports of falls requiring emergency response from 2009 and 2010 at Logan Airport. The data showed 96 percent of falls occurred in terminals and 37 percent resulted in trips to an emergency room. Of the passengers who fell, 72 percent were female and 43 percent were over the age of 65.
Escalators accounted for 44 percent of all fall cites in the airport, suggesting passengers were falling while carrying luggage, using cell phones, not using handrails or losing balance.
Jonathan Howland from the Injury Prevention Center said airports should focus on directing at-risk passengers toward elevators as a means to decrease the incidence of falls. The interventions or means of redirection could include signage and audio messages instructing passengers with luggage to use elevators instead of escalators. The Massport action plan focuses on escalator safety and is implementing audio public service announcements and signage at the airport terminals to recommend the use of elevators. Howland believes the results of the study can be applied to other airports and public buildings all over the country.
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