After a Fall-Handle with Care

Step 1. Call 911 immediately for emergencies.

It is an emergency if there is:

Severe pain
Problems breathing or talking
Less alert or unresponsive
Visible major injury
Inability to move
Major bleeding
Any major change

Go to Step 2 if there is not immediate evidence of an emergency

Step 2. Take 5 minutes to assess the situation. Do not move the person unless required.

Calmly ask the person/witness:

What happened?
     (inability to describe what happened is a cause for concern)
Does anything hurt?
How do you feel?

Ask the person to move their arms and legs.
Determine if there is pain around the neck.
Ask the person to take a deep breath.
Assess whether the person is more confused than usual.
Does the person appear “sick” or “not right”?
Call 911 if the 5-minute assessment raises concerns.

Go to Step 3 if no major concerns are raised.

Step 3. Move the person into a comfortable sitting position. Get help to move the person if needed.

Check Vital signs.

a temperature of 100° F or higher is of concern.
a heart rate (beats per minute) of 50 or less or 95 or higher is of concern.
an irregular heart rhythm that is new is of concern.
a systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) of less than 100 or greater than 170 is of concern.
a respiratory rate (per minute) of 14 or less or 24 or greater is of concern.
an oxygen saturation (spO2) of 95% or less is of concern.

Check blood sugar in diabetic patients.

a blood sugar (mg/dl) of 60 or less or 300 or more is of concern.

Check for any wounds or bruising.

If concerns are raised, go to the emergency room, urgent care, or same-day care.

Go to Step 4 if the person appears stable after 15 minutes.

Step 4. Provide Followup care

Determine if the person can walk.
Clean, dress, and bandage minor wounds.
Notify health care provider for non-urgent problems. Report questions about vital signs, blood sugars, medicines, or other medical problems.
Protect against another immediate fall.
Stay with the person for 24 hours. Check in every 15 minutes for one hour, then gradually less.
Recheck vital signs multiple times. Vital signs should gradually return to baseline values.
Continue to check-in regularly for the next several days.

Go to Step 5