Fall Prevention Awareness Week is shedding light on the critical issue of falls among older adults, an unfortunate common occurrence.

Every year across the country, 37 million adult falls result in about 3 million emergency room visits. New York City also faces a significant challenge, with 30,000 emergency room visits annually due to falls.

Ryan Murray, the executive deputy commissioner for the city’s Department of Aging, emphasized the importance of addressing this concern on “Mornings On 1” Friday.

“One of the things that we like to remind everybody about is older adults are diverse, right? Not all are frail,” he said. “[But] we want to make sure that it's safe for everybody to be at home and in the community."

Uneven sidewalks, a common hazard in the city, can be particularly dangerous, and Murray said the agency is working with departments across the city to ensure safety measures are in place for all New Yorkers.

Murray noted the department's collaboration with other city agencies to ensure pedestrians can navigate city streets safely and effectively.

“We've spent a lot of time recently looking at pedestrian safety, traffic calming and ensuring that it is safe to move around New York City and it's as important for folks to make sure that they stay healthy, so that that you know they can get around,” he said.

Additionally, Murray stressed the importance of educating older adults and their caregivers on fall prevention strategies.

“It's not just educating the older adults,” he said. “[It’s also] making sure family members, whether it is the son, the cousin, those folks are available to help older adults understand how to get back up and how to get help.