IT may seem like a simple enough task, but getting up in the morning can be a dangerous business.

So dangerous in fact, that an astonishing 20,000 people a year are actually admitted to hospital after falling out of bed.

TV actress Leslie Ash can vouch for the seriousness of taking a tumble – she was hospitalised in 2004 after suffering two cracked ribs and told doctors she fell off her bed onto a table during a love-making session with her husband.

But it’s not just in the bedroom where we are at risk.

Figures released by the NHS Information Centre from March 2010 to this February also show that 12,000 people were admitted to hospital after falling off a chair and 6,400 after falling from or onto ladders.

Even getting dressed is a risk, as Jo Bullock, from Rospa, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, explained.

“There used to be a UK database of accidents,” she said.

“It stopped in 2002, but in that year, more than 9,400 people ended up in A&E because they had an accident that involved in some way a pair of trousers.”

And if you think staying indoors is the best way to avoid accidents – think again.

“The home is the most common location for an accident that either sends you to hospital or even results in death,” said Jo.

“All sorts of items and actions can result in accidents.

“We know that older people are more at risk of falling and that consequences of that type of fall for them also are more severe.”

A spokesperson for the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said there were many reasons why someone might fall.

“These include illness, poor vision, unsteady walking, weak muscles, medications, confusion and disorientation, foot problems or badly fitting footwear.

“If you have had a fall in the last year, or are worried that you are at risk of falling, ask your doctor about the support available. They may refer you to a falls specialist team or other professional who can help you”

According to the NHS Information Centre, falls accounted for almost 460,000 hospital admissions – roughly 18,700 more than in the previous year.

Overall, the number of people attending A&E is rising. In 2010/11 there were 16.2 million attendances, up from 15.5 million in the previous year.

“Our figures show a rise in the number of hospital admissions for falls – from those who fall out of bed to people taking a tumble out of a tree,” said NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan.

“Today’s report highlights the number of hospital admissions due to injuries from falls, particularly among women over 80, who represent nearly a third of all such admissions.”

It’s certainly a growing problem and one which Jo is keen to do something about.

“We are currently in the middle of a big campaign to get accidents recognised as a big problem. They’re sending lots of people to hospital and therefore they’re extremely expensive.

“Thankfully the vast majority of accidents have fairly minor consequences and things like bumps and bruises are all part of life, particularly for children it’s an important way for them to learn about safety.

“But we are in the business of preventing serious accidents. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of time and a bit of thought.”

So be careful out there!