
Curt Koon, president of the Marco Island Police Foundation.
Police Chief Al Schettino, wearing a black band across his shield, brought sobering statistics to the Marco Island Police Foundation’s “Lunch with the Chief” attendees on the number of police shot and killed in the line of duty. He recently attended a memorial service and candlelight vigil in honor of fallen law enforcement officers with the Naples Police Department and the Collier County Sheriffs Department. In March alone, there were 16 killed across the country. Since the beginning of 2016, 37 have been killed by gunfire, two in

Photos by Coastal Breeze News StaffPolice Chief Al Schettino.
However, the featured speaker of the luncheon, Mark Tesoro, MA, an injury prevention educator, also brought sobering information from Step Smart Collier, a fall prevention program. Falls are the leading cause of death and injury for seniors.
In fact:
1 of 3 seniors fall each year
20% of seniors who fall are hospitalized with

Injury prevention educator Mark Tesoro.
11% never return home
50% of those hospitalized pass away within one year
60% of falls happen in the senior’s home
Average fall death rate in Florida is 9%, Collier County is 14% – 55% higher than the statewide average
Last year, Collier County EMS responded to 4,300 emergency calls for falls. There are steps you can take to help prevent falls, including a room-by-room checklist for common hazards and a machine to test balance.
For more information, check out the Senior Safety Fair on June 16th at the South Regional Library, 1-4 PM, or contact Mark at 239-343-3672.
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