How To Raise Awareness of the Dangers of Pressure Injuries
More than 2.5 million people develop pressure injuries every year in the United States. This type of injury is most common in the elderly and immobile, especially people who are in hospitals, nursing homes, or other long-term healthcare facilities. Pressure injuries, although they can start out easily treatable, can quickly become severe and life-threatening.
According to America’s Health Rankings from the United Health Foundation (UHF), 55.8 million people in the U.S. is aged 65 or older. That’s almost 17% of Americans at risk for pressure injuries, and that’s not even counting younger people who may be immobile for any reason. It’s very important to understand and share with others how common and dangerous pressure injuries can be, what the signs are, and what you can do to prevent them.