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 walkways clear of clutter and cords, improve indoor and outdoor lighting, use nonslip mats and grab bars in bathrooms, reduce uneven floor surfaces and rugs in travel paths, and wear sturdy, supportive shoes.

Why it matters: falls are common and often cause serious injury among older adults. At the workshop Giuliachi said national and local data both show high risk for repeat falls and for falls that lead to emergency-room visits. The event combined prevention guidance with tools and local services intended to make it easier to act on those tips.

Giuliachi described several preparedness measures beyond immediate fall prevention. She recommended community check-ins for seniors who live alone, described the function of Knox Boxes (a locked box that stores a home key for emergency responders) and reiterated the district's guidance on evacuation planning and ‘‘hardening’’ homes against wildfire. She also encouraged residents to sign up for SMC Alert and the Genesis Protect app (formerly Zone Haven) to receive fast zone-based evacuation notices.

The workshop included a short device demonstration and distribution. Attendees were offered a trial of a small personal alert button (referred to in the meeting as "Pledgium"). "Pledgium? Pledgium? Yeah. Pledgium that he has is it's actually it's very cost effective," Giuliachi said, describing the device as a low-cost, no-subscription option that links to a smartphone and can send GPS location if pressed. The organizers said about 40 units were available to test and requested attendees complete a short setup form so staff could evaluate ease of use.

The presentation also covered medication management and emergency information: responders urged households to keep a current medication list and emergency contact information in a prominent place (Giuliachi recommended the refrigerator) to help first responders during chaotic calls.

"One in three older adults will have a fall, sending one in 17 to the emergency room," Giuliachi said, repeating a widely cited risk statistic used to explain why local prevention measures matter.

For more information, Giuliachi directed residents to the Woodside Fire website at woodsidefire.org and to sign up for e-notifications and SMC Alert. The fire marshal said the district plans more workshops this year focused on older-adult safety and wildfire preparedness.

Questions and brief demonstrations followed the presentation. Attendees asked about techniques to soften a fall and how to get up after a fall; Giuliachi advised calling 911 after any loss of consciousness or significant head injury and pointed to online videos and in-person training that show safe techniques for getting up when possible.

Ending: The fire district left business cards and follow-up contact information at the meeting; organizers asked those who took an alert button to complete a short setup survey so the program can evaluate whether to expand free distribution.