My friend fell and fractured her leg in two places because when she got to the outside bottom step she was distracted and did not look down, thinking there were no more steps. She also was not holding on to the railing because she had things in her hand. My best advise is to always hold on to the railing and look down to make sure you are at the bottom. My 78 year old husband fell down many stairs this morning because he didn't hold on and was wearing slippery socks on smooth wooden stairs. He's ok except for a small cut on his hand. I have lectured him before about holding on. I think he just learned his lesson. His main regret was that he broke his favorite cup!