Woodside fire marshal outlines seven practical fall-prevention steps, offers free alert devices

Kim Giuliachi, division chief and fire marshal with the Woodside Fire Protection District, told a packed community workshop that falls are a major hazard for older adults and outlined practical steps residents can take to reduce risk.

"We had 889 medical calls, which was 75% of the volume of our calls," Giuliachi said, listing 2024 call volumes to emphasize the local scale of medical responses. She told attendees the district recorded 48 lift-assist calls in 2024 — incidents where responders help people who have fallen or are unable to get up — and urged older residents and caregivers to take specific precautions.

The workshop, organized by a town council member and held at Woodside Town Hall, centered on seven fall-prevention tips adapted from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Steps to Safety program. Giuliachi grouped the advice into simple, actionable items: exercise regularly (after consulting a doctor), rise slowly from chairs and beds, keep…