By Rowan O’Malley
I love my life on the homestead: being outdoors and growing lots of food in the garden. Heck, even doing chores that most folks find tedious, like piling wood or organizing the shed, are enjoyable to me when I’m out getting some fresh air in the bargain. But let’s face it: what this lifestyle relies on is a lot of good, honest manual labor. If my ability to do that is jeopardized in any way, my ability to stay independently on my homestead is jeopardized as well.
This brings me to the inspiration for my topic: Just in the past week, I have heard several stories of neighbors, friends, and friends of friends taking bad falls. One homesteader around my age (fifties) slipped on ice and broke her arm in two places. Her doctors are now contemplating rebreaking her healing arm to insert a plate. In the meantime, she is in considerable pain, and her husband is doing everything, as she is unable to do most of her chores. He works off the homestead, so this has put a strain on them.
Like any good prepper, I always think about the “what ifs” in life. So, these days, I realize that my friend will get her surgery she needs for her arm and recover over time. Now, consider what might happen to her in a SHTF scenario? An injury like that could be life-threatening. There is the possibility of infection in a complex fracture, and where, exactly, are you going to get surgery? In your cousin Bob’s kitchen? Eeks! Would you ever regain the use of your arm if it is inexpertly/incorrectly splinted?
Being unable to perform chores in SHTF could jeopardize not only your survival but also that of your family or chosen survival group. Finally, being vulnerable in that way could make you a target for unsavory SHTF types.
For all of these reasons, I’m going to share a portable prep that has already saved me once: learning how to fall properly and safely.
Is There a Wrong Way to Fall?
Unfortunately, at least for us humans, falling is an accident waiting to happen. It turns out that the most common human instinct when falling is to try and break your fall with your hands. THIS IS THE WRONG WAY TO FALL! There’s even an acronym for it: FOOSH – Falling On Out-Stretched Hand. And it turns out that this is a very good way to break your hand, wrist, or upper arm.
Another common injury resulting from falls is head injuries. This is not something that you want to be dealing with in a SHTF scenario, trust me. And even worse, the ramifications could be long-term.
Why and How I Learned to Fall Correctly
I learned to fall in an unexpected way: a hard-core prepper friend of mine (ex-military) had recommended I take some self-defense lessons. I thought he was right, and signed up for some classes on a military base near where I was living at the time.
What did we learn first? How to fall! Initially, I thought this was, well….pretty BORING until my sensei started sharing the stories of how helpful a skill this was in real life. I was hooked and had fun. Although I moved away and didn’t continue the lessons, the knowledge that falling was actually a SKILL stayed with me.
Where to Learn: In Person or Online
If this idea of improving your ability to fall well has caught your interest, you may be wondering where you can learn. For those of you who are near enough, I really would recommend doing this in person with a local martial arts group. Many of the dojos in my area offer a series of free lessons before you need to join and pay a cent, either for the lessons or a proper uniform. Those of you who like efficiency might hire a sensei for private lessons on breakfalls.
There are two reasons that I recommend learning with a qualified teacher. First, there’s no replacement for having a knowledgeable eye trained on you. Early on, I was sure I was falling well, but I needed repeated corrections from my sensei to get it right. Second, the dojo will have the proper mats. These are ideal for beginners to practice where the stakes are low: you will be cushioned when you fall the wrong way. You can learn to fall the right way and protect yourself when the stakes are much, much higher: on hard surfaces. The goal is to get the correct falling technique into your muscle memory.
Unless you have a full set of mats, you might seek out a local gym to practice. In a pinch, I do think it would be better to practice on your bed than not practice at all. Or maybe a trampoline?
If you want to start learning online, I will share a few links. Keep in mind that you will see here are just introductions. In my group, we began with beginner-level breakfalls (from kneeling), and students would need to work up to full breakfalls from the standing position over a period of months. It takes time, practice and patience:
This video gives a brief introduction to the types of falls (front, back, and side) and the different levels of difficulty to practice. Don’t worry about the rolls, though, unless you want to get into martial arts.
Here’s another pair of intro videos:
If you want to get the kids involved, there’s a delightful children’s book that teaches breakfalls and agility.
If you would prefer to learn about this without the martial arts, I did find a series of nine videos from a website appropriately called The Science of Falling. Brent Pritt is a doctor of Physical Therapy and does a great job of explaining fall risks and how to avoid them. One of these videos, Stepping Strategies, is focussed on fall prevention by learning the edge of your body’s own balance point and practicing steps to recover yourself.
Not Just for Winter: How it Saved Me and My Sensei
My own example of using this technique happened this past summer. I was organizing a bunch of stuff in my shed. I forgot where things were, and took a step backward onto something that took my feet out from under me. I fell on the concrete but used my backward breakfall technique, even though the last time I had been at the dojo was over two years ago. I was amazed to get up unhurt, even though I have a back problem.
My sensei’s example was at his workplace, where he slipped on a wet floor, falling backward. He told us all how using his technique prevented his head from hitting the floor despite how quick and dramatic his fall was.
Fall Right and Prevent a SHTF Catastrophe
Learning how to fall safely could save your bones, your noggin, or even your life in SHTF.
Have you learned this valuable skill already? Are you now interested in learning how? Do you have your own story of how falling safely prevented an injury? Please tell us in the comments section.
About Rowan
Rowan O’Malley is a fourth-generation Irish American who loves all things green: plants (especially shamrocks), trees, herbs, and weeds! She challenges herself daily to live her best life and to be as fit, healthy, and prepared as possible!
Thank you!
This sounds like great information! Due to my age and damaged knee (no ACL for balance) I worry about falling especially in winter. I have seen multiple people laid up for months due to falls. A couple of years ago I was in a hurry walking across my lawn and did not see a hose which tripped me. When I fell forward somehow I turned the fall into a roll and ended up doing a somersault (first in many decades!). When I came out of it I used the momentum to pop back up on my feet. I had guests over at the time who watched this with dropped jaws. I’m still amazed myself ! It did help I fell onto grass and I don’t know what possessed me to roll with the fall which took the impact. I do take several “silver & fit” gym classes a week and they have us do exercises build muscle and improve our balance. I think balance and strong leg muscles are a big key as being able to recover has saved me from falling multiple times.
Good topic!
I wish I could tell you how falling well saved me from getting hurt but mine is just the opposite. I’ve been thrown off a lot of horses and had multiple concussions and soft tissue damage over the years. Just recently I was hauling on a rope and it broke and I fell back against a wall. I didn’t hit my head hard but I was out of commission for 2 days with vomiting and back and neck pain. I had to ask my parents to come do my chores (goat farm) because I couldn’t stand up long enough.
Now, at 50, I’m debilitated from all the head injuries and body damage, suffer from CFS and brain fog. Definitely no joke. I wish I hadn’t been such a stupid kid. I’d be in better shape today…
When Dr. Atkins died, the newsliars claimed it was from heart issues. In fact, his heart was in excellent condition. Dr. Atkins died from a slip and fall on January ice in NYC. This article might have saved his life. Falls in the elderly are often followed by death.
Important topic. Along with learning how to fall properly, which now I’ll check out more on, there’s lots of fall prevention info out there that can prevent the fall in the first place. When I lived in a cold snowy area, I kept a pair of micro spikes on my boots all winter so I was never tempted to go out without them. I did have to switch from Yak Traks, which seem to be made cheaper and flimsier these days (actually experienced several falls when the rubber parts broke and the pairs on both feet got hooked together as I walked!). Switched to another brand of micro spikes so no coiled springs to get hooked together. Check your Yak Traks carefully and disgard them if the rubber is torn at all. My old ones lasted for decades and the replacement ones started failing the first winter.
This is excellent survival advice truly, a quick look at statistics about death and disability after a fall after a certain age can confirm the importance of increasing strength, balance, but also add some falling technique training. I tend to favor judo, bjj and tai chi and of course lifting to keep muscle and tendon strength as I race towards 60. Very good article.
As a gymnast for 10 years in my youth I was taught how to fall. I don’t always remember in the panic, I’ll be honest.
The worst was 3 years back when my husband hit me with a golf cart. Twice. No lie. Walking to my 3rd shot by the green (it was a good hole!), he (an accident prone goofus) didn’t turn the wheel enough & nicked my foot, then his hands slipped again & hit me square into the back of the knees forcing me forward (putter, PW & SW in hand!). My instinct of how to roll must’ve kicked in. I rolled, the clubs hit the back of my head & stayed in my grip. 🙂 Quite the sight for everyone around.
My left knee got hung up underneath the cart forcing it sideways. Thank God I was taking a crossfit class at the time so I had good strong knees & core because I thought for sure my knee was broken. It was the worst pain I’ve ever felt & I’ve had 4 babies, 3 naturally. It took some braces, Biofreeze & unconventional therapies but fortunately it healed in a few weeks with no broken bones or torn muscles.
You wouldn’t think a tuck & roll would help but I can assure you, it helps.
As a 74 yo who has suffered 2 non operable hip fractures in the past 2 years, I have acquired some knowledge that might be useful, especially to seniors. The break that happens is because the hip was torqued and the “ball and socket” in the hip breaks, then the fall happens.
Make a fist with one hand and insert it into you other hand making a cup shape. Twist the ball and let the fingers of the cupped hand spread. The solution is about 6 weeks of no weight bearing. A skilled nursing facility is needed for that and the physical therapy which follows.