Can an old person die from slipping on ice?

Question

if so, what could cause the death.

Answer 1

a number of things

falls are one of the top causes of accidental death in the world

injuries sustained from a fall from standing which could be fatal include (but not limited to)
1) head injury--most important and most obvious
2) long bone fracture (femur most dangerously, less likely than a head injury, but possible)--can cause bleeding and if done right, can cut the femoral artery causing massive blood loss
3) abdominal trauma--leading to internal bleeding and hemmorhage (MUCH less likely than the first two)
4) Infection--caused from cuts or broken bones, a septic infection could kill someone which happens as a result of a fall, the LEAST likely, and VERY unlikely, but theoretically possible

Answer 2

Yes they can. I feel really terrible. 13 years ago this woman down the street was walking her dog. I had just come home and had my baby with me. She saw the baby and stopped to talk...her dog saw another dog and yanked the chain (it was one of those little lap dogs too!) but it pulled her hard (I think she was pretty weak and unstable) and she lost her footing or slipped and fell back and hit her head.

The people with the dog stopped briefly but then took off. Another couple came by and helped pick her up and we walked her home. I told her to call someone (her son) if she didn't feel well. About an hour later I saw an ambulance in front of her place. I never saw her again and heard months later that she died. I felt really bad because I'm sure she died from that injury. I kept thinking if I hadn't come home at that exact moment and if she hadn't have been walking by....but that is fate and I know it wasn't anything either of us did...life happens like that.

So yes people can die from slipping and also from falling and breaking a hip...only 2 out of 5 really live for long after falling and breaking a hip....when they are elderly. My aunt is only in her 70s but is suffering terribly from her broken hip and this is years later and it's only getting worse and developing complications.

Answer 3

If that old person were to break a bone that cut through the skin, they could bleed to death, crack their head on the pavement under the ice could kill them. Just to name a few. Elderly people are very frail. It doesn't take much to hurt them and many injuries that we all laugh at in our youth can become deadly to elderly people. They don't have the same ability to heal that younger people do.

Answer 4

A young person could die from slipping on ice.
Hell, anyone can die from slipping on ice!
Probably falling directly on your head;that would do it.

Answer 5

There was an elderly gentleman from my town that slipped and fell on ice, he hit his head, and passed away almost instantly. He was well know nad loved and respected in our town, and everyone was shocked. Since then, the sidewalks in town are kept very clear.

Answer 6

Of course they can! Anyone can die from slipping on ice!

Answer 7

They could slip on ice, fall and crack their head open and die from blood loss.

Answer 8

if they hit their head, maybe a concussion, or internal bleeding of the brain.. something uncomfortable like that. they are fragile people.

Answer 9

ice doesn't know the age or reasons
for this type of accidents

Answer 10

yes