Falls are the major cause of death for those older than 74. Stair falls are a major cause of death and injury. Research directed at stair safety has focused on reducing the number of accidents. The paper suggests that deaths and injuries can be substantially reduced by focusing instead on the causes of stair trauma; the types of falls, the parts of the body that are injured, the magnitude of the forces involved, and the parts of the stair that causes the injury. Using the model of the automobile interior, stairs can be designed without potentially injurious elements, and with an ability to cushion the force of the accident.
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