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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — An older adult fell at home or outside and may be injured.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Person on floor, alert but cannot get up, wrist or hip pain.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Brief blackout before fall — cardiac cause possible.
Scene hazards: Long lie hypothermia, Repeat fall
Hip and spine fracture common — avoid dragging.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ask: "What happened before you fell? Hit your head?"
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Look for anticoagulant packets nearby.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Pillow under head, blanket for warmth if wait on floor.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If must move for fire — log roll technique if trained.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Elderly fall, anticoagulant yes/no, head strike, pain location.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Unlock door for paramedics.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hospital after most elderly falls with injury mechanism.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — New confusion after fall — scan head.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT stand them by armpit pull alone.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume embarrassment explains confusion.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If they can talk normally after a fall they do not need hospital
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Subdural hematoma in elderly develops slowly on blood thinners — evaluation still needed.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sending home with undetected brain bleed.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Falls are leading trauma cause in elderly — syncope, fracture, and bleed combine.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Blood thinners turn minor head bump into intracranial bleed.