Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette, Colorado, and three partners sponsored a "Mugs for Rugs" exchange with dates in September and October to help people reduce their risk of falling by trading in their throw rugs for a drinking mug.
Last month and this month in the greater Lafayette, Colorado, community, Good Samaritan Medical Center and partners are inviting people to trade in their throw rugs, which present a fall risk, for these mugs. From left, Stephanie Coppom, trauma nurse coordinator; Dr. Travis Guthrie, emergency physician; and Mary Ann Ronfeldt, emergency charge nurse, show off the mugs.
Good Samaritan, now a part of Intermountain Health, joined Boulder County Area Agency on Aging, Colorado Trauma Network and Foothills Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Council to make the trades.
Loose throw rugs are a common tripping hazard in homes. "More than 70% of patients who are admitted to Good Samaritan Medical Center with traumatic injuries suffered those injuries due to a fall," said Grace Dobbertin, Good Samaritan trauma outreach education coordinator. "Common injuries resulting from falls include broken bones and traumatic brain injuries."
Swaps were to be made on a first-come, first-served basis at several locations. The rugs that were collected were set to be donated to local animal shelters, Good Samaritan said in a release.