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Agenda Item No. 4(A) Falls Preven,ion,Awareness Week September 22-28, 2012 WHEREAS, nearly 18 percent of Contra Costa County's estimated 1,049,000 people are 60 years of age or older and each year nationally, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls. Falls are the leading cause of injury and death among seniors and every 35 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall; and WHEREAS, falls are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma, causing injuries such as hip fractures and head traumas. A fall-related injury is one of the 20 most expensive medical conditions to ~reat; and WHEREAS, according to a 2010 report, almost half (49.3%) of Contra Costa County's unintentional injury hospitalizations occurred among residents 65 years and older. and over three- quarters (75.9%) of these hospitalizations were due to falls; and WHEREAS, county residents 65 years and older had the highest unintentional injury hospitalization rate (2214.7 per 100,000); more than half (53.5%) of unintentional injury hospitalizations in the county were due to falls, followed by motor vehicle traffic accidents (13.5%) and poisonings {7.5%);and WHEREAS, falling, and the fear of falling, can lead to depression, isolation, diminished mobility, and loss of functional independence and falls are a public health problem that is largely preventable; and WHEREAS, concentrated efforts are being made in Contra Costa County by the Fall Prevention Coalition to reduce falls and fall related injuries by using multi-faceted interventions; and WHEREAS, National Falls Prevention Awareness Day is observed the first day of Fall (September 22, 2012), Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR 77 of May 28, 2008 declares the first week of fall each year as Fall Prevention Awareness Week in California, and the Federal Safety of Seniors Act of 2007 calls for the expansion of public health programs, educational outreach, and research activities related to fall prevention. NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City ofEl Cerrito does hereby proclaim the week of September 22-28, 2012, as "FALL PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK" in the City of El Cerrito and calls upon all residents and interested groups to observe the week with appropriate activities that promote awareness of fall prevention. Dated: September 18,2012 William C. Jones III, Mayor