It was a dark and stormy night, when suddenly…

I am no expert on the subject of fall prevention, but I do have a story. It was a dark and stormy night. My husband and I fell asleep to the sound of wind and rain, but were awakened by the unwelcome sound of hail. We had left one of our cars outside. I don’t know why, but we had also left some lawn furniture between that car and the garage.

We both ran outside in an attempt to save the car from hail damage – which we did. However, I broke my ankle that night, stepping on a hailstone in the dark. Seven years later, I still live with pain and weakness and cannot do everything I could before.

My doctor warned that if I refused to give up one of my favorite activities, i.e., walking for exercise, when I got older I wouldn’t be able to walk at all. Why? While the bone fracture healed quickly and well, the trauma caused permanent tendon and ligament damage. It took me a few years, but I finally succumbed to his advice and have turned to only swimming for exercise.

So was it the hailstone that caused my broken ankle? One could say that, but I chalk it up to the following: 1) I was rushing; 2) I was careless (I put shoes on but did not tie them properly); 3) our driveway was not well lit; 4) I failed to make my own safety top priority.

Much has been written about fall prevention, but I have a theory why we ignore most of the advice: a) we think it will never happen to us, or b) simple pride or c) both.

Anyone who has experienced a fall will tell you it’s shocking. You find yourself asking, what happened? How did I get on the ground (or floor)? In a split second, everything changes.

Do you really want to go through the crutches, the cast or boot, possible surgery, physical therapy and maybe living the rest of your life with frustrating limitations? Think prevention.

Broken arms or legs. Damage to shoulders, hips, ankles and elbows. Traumatic head injuries. The list of possible results from a fall is long and, without being dramatic, includes permanent disability and even death.

Experts on this subject can provide much more thorough advice, but I will say this much: Be honest with yourself if you are having balance problems or dizziness. If you think these issues might be related to your prescriptions, discuss alternatives with your doctor.

Remove obstacles in your home such as throw rugs. Put in extra night lights. Wear the right shoes even if you’d prefer others. Don’t leave things like shoes or toys lying about. Consider exercises to strengthen your core, your back and your legs. There are also exercises designed to improve balance.

Drop your pride. If you need to lean on someone, ask. If someone offers you an arm, take it. If there's a railing, grasp it. If you need a cane or other device, use it. If you live alone, consider getting a medical alert pendant such as Lively. “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” is only funny until it isn’t.