Cobb brings awareness to falls with nature walk at Swift-Cantrell Park
Apr. 14—KENNESAW — A new educational nature walk at Swift-Cantrell Park seeks to bring awareness to, and prevent, people falling.
Different signs along the inner loop at the park feature facts about falls in an effort to educate the public while promoting safe and healthy lifestyles.
The ribbon cutting for the walk was held inside the North Cobb Regional Library Friday due to inclement weather.
Speakers at the event included Cobb Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, Commissioner Keli Gambrill, state representatives Lisa Campbell, D-Kennesaw, and Devan Seabaugh, R-Marietta, and Kennesaw Mayor Derek Easterling.
The walk is a partnership between Cobb County Public Library, Cobb Senior Services, Kennesaw, the Georgia Department of Public Health, Emory University's Injury Prevention Research Center and Shepherd Center.
According data from the Georgia Public Health Department, Cobb residents made 7,894 emergency room visits caused by falls in 2021.
"Falls are not a natural part of aging and can happen at any age or stage of life," the county noted in a pamphlet about the walk.
Cupid and Easterling, however, talked about the struggles their elderly relatives endured related to falls.
"The human experience is a universal experience, and I think something like this is an opportunity to bring us together, to see what we can do to help make our county ... more welcoming, more safe and inviting for everyone," Cupid said.
According to U.S. census data, 13.3% of Cobb residents, or just over 100,000 people, are 65 or older.
