Fall

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What to Do After a Fall… If You CAN Get Up
The first thing to do is to catch your breath. Check and see if you are injured. Even if you
think you're OK, take your time before getting up again.
Follow These Five Steps for Getting Up
1.

Lie on your side, bend the leg that is on top and lift yourself onto your elbows or
hands.

2.

Pull yourself toward an armchair or other sturdy object, then kneel while placing both
hands on the chair or object.

3.

Place your stronger leg in front, holding on to the chair or object.

4.

Stand up.

5.

Very carefully, turn and sit down.

What to Do After a Fall… If You CANNOT Get Up
If you feel any discomfort or are unable to get up, try to get help.
1.

Call out for help if you think you can be heard.

2.

If you have an emergency call device or telephone at hand, use it.

3.

If you don't, try to slide yourself towards a telephone or a place where you will be
heard.

4.

Make noise with your cane or another object to attract attention.

5.

Wait for help in the most comfortable position for you.

6.
7.

If you can, place a pillow under your head and cover yourself with a piece of clothing
or a blanket to stay warm.
Try to move your joints to ease circulation and prevent stiffness.
Top of Page

What to Do After a Fall… If You Are the WITNESS
If you see someone fall, resist the urge to get the person up immediately. First check for
condition: is the person conscious or unconscious? Does the person appear to be injured?
Reassure the person.
If the individual cannot get up, call for help and administer first aid if you are able to do so.
Help the person find a comfortable position and keep him or her warm using an item of
clothing or blanket.
If the individual appears able to get up, proceed with care and follow the steps below.

1.

Bring a chair close by; help the person turn onto the side and bend the upper leg; help
the person into a semi-seated position.

2.

Placing yourself behind the person and getting a firm grip on the hips, help the person
to a kneeling position with both hands on the chair.

3.

Holding on to the chair, the person should then place the stronger leg in front. You
may help by guiding his or her leg.

4.

With a firm grip on the hips, help the person to stand, then turn and sit on the chair.

Public Health Agency Canada (PHAC),2011, , If You Fall or Witness a Fall, Do You
Know What to Do?http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniorsaines/publications/public/injury-blessure/falls-chutes/index-eng.php

National Health Service UK (NHS), 2015, Fals,
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Falls/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Introduction
Anyone can have a fall, but older people are more vulnerable and likely to fall,
especially if they have a long-term health condition.
Falls are a common, but often overlooked, cause of injury. Around one in three adults over 65
who live at home will have at least one fall a year, and about half of these will have more
frequent falls.
Most falls don't result in serious injury. However, there's always a risk that a fall could lead to
broken bones, and it can cause the person to lose confidence, become withdrawn and feel as
if they've lost their independence.
What should I do if I fall?
If you have a fall, it's important to keep calm.
If you're not hurt and you feel strong enough to get up, don't get up quickly. Roll onto your
hands and knees and look for a stable piece of furniture, such as a chair or bed.
Hold on to the furniture with both hands to support yourself and, when you feel ready, slowly
get up. Sit down and rest for a while before carrying on with your daily activities.
If you're hurt or unable to get up, try to get someone's attention by calling out for help,
banging on the wall or floor, or using your aid call button (if you have one). If possible, crawl
to a telephone and dial 999 to request an ambulance.
Try to reach something warm, such as a blanket or dressing gown, to put over you,
particularly your legs and feet. Stay as comfortable as possible and try to change your
position at least once every half an hour or so.
If you're living with or caring for an elderly person, see accidents and first aid for information
and advice about what to do after an accident.

Improve safety inside
To increase safety in the home:

Have adequate lighting. Replace light globes with CFL energy efficient light globes of 12





watts or higher. Use plug-in night-lights and have movement sensitive lights near stairs and
the bathroom. These lights are available from most leading hardware stores.
Remove clutter and make sure walkways and corridors are kept clear and well lit.
Repair or replace carpets with worn areas, holes or long threads.
Check that mats and rugs are secure and have no tears or wrinkles. Put adhesive strips on



all mats and rugs, including those in the bathroom.
Make sure that chairs and beds are sturdy and easy to get into and out of, and that tables






and benches do not have sharp corners.
Check that internal doors can be opened and closed properly, preferably without locks.
Check that external doors can be locked and unlocked easily and are working properly.
Wipe up spills immediately.
Install grab rails in the bathroom (towel rails are not usually strong enough to use as grab




rails).
Store and use medications safely.
To reduce the risk of falling in an emergency, make sure your house has smoke alarms in
working order and a fire blanket or extinguisher that is easy to reach.

Improve safety outside
To increase safety outside the home:

Clear away garden tools

Kill mosses, fungi and lichen that make garden paths slippery when wet

Mark the leading edge of outside steps (for example, with white paint) so they are easy to






see
Make sure outside steps are well lit
Keep paths well swept
Repair broken, uneven or cracked paths, patios and other walking surfaces
Wear sunglasses and a hat to reduce sun glare.

Stay healthy
To maximise physical wellbeing:

Talk to your doctor or other health professionals about your diet, managing your




medications (including non-prescription ones), and ways to manage chronic medical
conditions, including dizziness and incontinence, to reduce risks of falling
Have your eyes tested annually
Visit your podiatrist regularly to minimise foot problems.

What to do if you fall at home
If you happen to have a fall at home:

Don’t panic – stay still for a few minutes and try to calm down

Call for help if you can

Dial triple zero (000) to telephone emergency services or call your local doctor for help –
keep your telephone in easy reach of the floor, for instance on a low table



Decide whether you can get up yourself.

If you can get up by yourself






Roll over onto your stomach and try to get into a crawling position
Crawl to a stable piece of furniture, like a lounge chair
Try to get up onto your knees
Push up, using your strongest leg and arms, still firmly holding onto the furniture
Sit down on the furniture.

If you can’t get up by yourself


Try to crawl or drag yourself to somewhere on carpet and find anything that can keep you




warm, such as bedclothes, a towel or clothing while you wait for help
Use your personal alarm, if you have one
If you don’t have a personal alarm, use an object that you can bang to make a loud noise,

like a walking stick against the wall, to alert a neighbour

If you know no one will hear you, keep warm and try to get up again later.
See your doctor to check for injuries and to assess whether there was a medical cause for the fall.

Where to get help










Your local doctor or health professional
Local community health services
Falls and Mobility Clinics – contact your regional Department of Human Services office
My Aged Care – Aged Care Information Line Tel. 1800 200 422
Commonwealth Carelink Centres Tel. 1800 052 222
Home and Community Care (HACC) services through your local council
Carers Australia Tel. 1800 242 636
Seniors Information Victoria Tel. 1300 135 090
Independent Living Centre Victoria Tel. (03) 9362 6111

Things to remember






Falls are a major cause of injury for older people.
Falls may be an indicator of deteriorating health.
Exercising can help maintain strength (muscle and bone) and balance.
Taking precautions in and around the home can help you avoid falls and injuries from falls.
Monitoring or personal alert systems or services can give older people independence and
peace of mind.

Better health Victoria 2015, “Falls prevention for older people”,
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Falls_prevention_for_older_p
eople?open,

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