I was carrying a tall tote up into the attic. I was almost at the top step when I was forced backwards down the steps. I was not holding the tote high enough resulting with the bottom hitting the edge of the top step bouncing it back and pushing me backwards down the steps. My wife was carrying an old printer to the van for recycling. With her holding it in front it blocked her field of view of the seat on which she wanted to place it. Well, the printer hit the seat and bounced back hitting her in the stomach causing her to fall backwards landing on the sidewalk. She resulted in some crystals being knocked loose in her ears and some major bruising to stomach, back and tailbone. To prevent a fall like this from happening, I would suggest that when you are close to where you want to place the item turn and walk sideways. This will not only provide a clear field of view but more important give you a very stable footing. Now, on steps I try to carry the package so that it is towards my side as opposed to being in front. I think that if it would hit a step it would be pushed alongside of you and not into your stomach, preventing a serious fall. When your feet are parallel it is quite easy to be pushed backwards and with the side step you have one leg behind you that can prevent a fall.
The 2nd situation was that I was not walking "Toes UP" I tripped on an uneven sidewalk. My toe hit the uneven portion causing a trip from which I could not recover. The fall resulted in a torn rotator cuff and a torn biceps muscle both in my left arm. So try to remember to walk toes up. That is pointing your toes slightly upwards when taking a step. I actually was taught this with the training with my first guide dog. I was walking home from church and my legs became a little fatigued and I was not walking with my toes up., If I ever find myself in that situation again, I will call for a ride or find a place to rest.