Well, it happened again. On Thanksgiving morning another friend fell off a ladder. (This is the third incident of this type to happen to my friends. One woman fell two times in two years. We threaten to take her ladder away now.) Current friend had been up on his roof cleaning the leaves out of the gutters. When he started down the ladder, he felt it slip a little. He only fell 4 feet onto a wood deck but he landed flat on his back and suffered a compression fracture in a vertebrae. Fortunately it was a very warm morning and his neighbor was out in his garage to hear friend yell for help. Paramedics were there in two minutes (He lives close to fire station.) and off he went to the hospital. No permanent damage but a lot of pain. It will take a while to heal. Note to all friends who live alone. Call someone to hold the ladder for you.