Trees climbed by farmers:
(1) fruit trees
(2) coconut palm
(3) betel palm
(4) mango
(5) breadfruit
Injury mechanism:
(1) falling from tree
(2) being struck by a falling object (branch, coconut)
Risk factors for fall injury:
(1) extreme of age (young or old)
(2) distance fallen (height climbed)
(3) objects struck on way down
(4) failure in climbing implement (ladder, climbing jig)
(5) intoxication
(6) acute illness (cold, acute malaria, etc.)
(7) inexperience
(8) tomfoolery (playing around, showing off, etc.)
(9) damaged tree (old, dying, rotten, other)
(10) weather conditions (ice, water, high wind, other)
(11) epilepsy
(12) hurry, moving too fast
(13) sudden surprise (due to snake or unexpected finding)
(14) musculoskeletal injury or limitation affecting dexterity
(15) failure to use personal protective equipment such as a safety belt, eye protection, grip boots or helmet.
(16) grabbing for support on something that gives way
(17) carrying anything in the hands (knife, collected fruit, etc.)
where:
• Intoxication may involve alcohol and/or drugs.
• Toddy is palm wine which is allowed to ferment at the top of the palm tree. A person who samples the wine too much can tumble out of the tree.
Type of injury:
(1) spinal injury with paraplegia or quadraplegia
(2) limb fracture
(3) head injury
(4) impalement
(5) eye injury
A person carrying a knife or other sharp tool can suffer cut injury.
