Norfolk Fire-Rescue and Sentara Trauma Services Partner to Prevent Falls

NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk Fire-Rescue's new Community Response Team (CRT) has formed a fall prevention partnership with Sentara Norfolk General Hospital's trauma team.

The goal of this initiative is to help seniors avoid falls by reducing risks and provide education to make their homes safer.

CRT members have been trained to identify fall risks and suggest ways to mitigate them. The Injury Prevention team at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital has provided brochures, grabber tools for safe reaching and other materials to inform residents of ways to stay safe in their homes.

Norfolk Fire-Rescue answers up to 15 calls per day for falls with injuries. Many of those patients are transported by ambulance to the Level I trauma center at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

"We are excited to get this program underway," said Chief Fred Paquet, Battalion Chief of EMS for Norfolk Fire-Rescue. "Our goal is to have fewer fall patients to transport to the hospital and that's good for everybody."

To request information or service, contact Norfolk Cares at (757)664-6510, use the MyNorfolk app, or the MyNorfolk online portal at www.mynorfolk.org.