Loading...
Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — An older adult has fallen at home or outside and may have hip, wrist, or head injury. They may be confused, in pain, or unable to get up.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Pain in hip, groin, or wrist after fall; leg turned outward or shorter.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Confusion, drowsiness, or not remembering the fall.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Bump on head, especially if on warfarin, aspirin, or clopidogrel.
Scene hazards: Slippery floors, Loose rugs, Poor lighting, Traffic if fall was outside
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stay calm. Ask: "Did you hit your head? Where does it hurt?"
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Look for bleeding, deformity, or inability to move a limb.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If hip pain or leg looks wrong — do NOT try to stand them up. Call 112.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If no severe pain and they want to get up — help slowly: roll to side, rest on hands and knees, then chair if steady.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Place a pillow under head if on floor. Keep warm with a blanket.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Note time of fall and any medicines they take — tell ambulance.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 if head hit, hip pain, on blood thinners, chest pain, or cannot get up safely.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say age, medicines, where they fell, and current alertness.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Any elderly fall with head strike, hip pain, or new confusion needs same-day emergency evaluation.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT yank them up by the arms — common cause of shoulder and hip injury.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume dizziness is normal — it may be stroke or heart problem.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT leave them alone on the floor for hours if you can get help.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If they did not break anything, no doctor visit is needed
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hip fractures are not always obvious. Head bleeds on blood thinners can appear later.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Skipping evaluation and missing hip fracture or brain bleed.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Falls are a leading cause of injury in older adults. Thin bones break more easily.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Head injuries on blood thinners can bleed internally even from minor bumps.