Falling at home can be a common occurrence for elderly people, people with limited mobility, or chronic conditions. Unfortunately, falls in the home can often result in injuries and hospitalisation. In fact, this AIHW report found that more than half of all hospitalised fall related injuries occurred in the home, with 15% of all injuries caused by household objects and clutter.
If you experience a fall at home, it’s essential to take the right steps to ensure your safety and wellbeing. In this post, we’ll discuss what to do if you find yourself in this situation.
01. Assess the situation
The first thing you need to do is assess the situation. Try to stay calm and take a few moments to check if you are hurt, feel pain and whether you’re able to get up.
- if you’re not hurt and can get up by yourself, try to gently get up. You can push yourself into a sitting position or use sturdy furniture to support yourself.
- if you’re hurt, unable to get up, or experience pain, call for help immediately
02. Call for help
Having a personal alarm, especially one with fall detection, on you at all times can be a lifesaver in an emergency. Make sure your alarm is charged and switched on all the time.
If you have a MePCAS personal alarm, press the button to alert our 24/7 monitoring center. A trained monitor will answer your call and talk to you through your alarm device. The monitor will ask you questions about what happened and how you feel, and call emergency services if needed. We will also provide all the details about the fall to emergency services so they can prioritise the call.
03. Stay warm
If you’re lying on the floor or ground, try to move onto a rug, carpet or other soft surface. If you can reach, cover yourself with a blanket, towel or clothing to stay warm. Move away from areas where there’s a draft.
This is especially important if you’re injured and waiting for help to arrive.
04. Keep moving
If you can do so without pain, try to keep your body moving a bit. Even gentle moves can help keep you warm, focused and calm until help arrives.
Lying in one position for too long can make you stiff, sore and damage the skin.
05. Stay Hydrated
It’s important to stay hydrated, especially if you’re waiting for help to arrive. If you have a water bottle or glass within reach, take small sips of water to stay hydrated.
Falling at home can be a scary experience for most people, so it’s essential to take precautions to prevent falls as much as you can. Removing potential tripping hazards and clutter around the home, installing mobility and support aids, and investing in a monitored personal alarm can help ensure the safety and wellbeing of seniors living alone or people with increased risk of falling. We also recommend creating a Falls Plan with simple steps for what to do in the case of a fall.
Find more tips on how to help prevent falls at home read our post here.