After the Fall.  Should you get up? 

Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, you may fall.  Now that you are on the floor or the ground, what do you do?  Here are some recommendations from the National Health Service of Scotland. 

If you fall, try to stay calm.  Assess yourself for injuries. Pain from an injury can take a few minutes to set in, so give yourself a little time before you decide on your next steps. 

If you ARE HURT or unable to get up, call out for help, call for help on your phone or, if you have one, activate your emergency fall alert device. While waiting for help, try to stay warm and gently move your arms and legs to keep circulation going.  If you are near a piece of furniture that has a blanket or throw on it, pull the blanket or throw onto you to keep you warm, in case you should experience shock.   

Not hurt?  Then let’s get up.  The best way to do this is as follows: 

  1. Roll onto your side 
  2. Push yourself up to a side, sitting position 
  3. Slowly get onto your hands and knees 
  4. Crawl to a sturdy piece of furniture or solid, stable object that can support you  
  5. Kneel beside the furniture of stable object, with your strongest leg next to the support object, then slide the foot of your strongest leg forward so that foot is flat on the floor or ground.  The other knee remains on the floor 
  6. Put both hands on the support object 
  7. Raise and turn your body, pushing through your hands and foot, until your bottom is resting on the chair or support object 
  8. Sit and rest for a few minutes until you feel able to stand. Assess yourself again for injuries while you are in this seated position. 
  9. Let your physician know about your fall and any factors that you think may have contributed to your falling. 

If you fall, you may need to seek more immediate medical help if the following has occurred – loss of consciousness, recurring dizziness, head injury, possible broken bones or soft tissue injuries requiring medical attention. 

If any of these conditions are present, call for assistance.  If there is no one available to immediately respond to you, call 911.  In the case of a loss of consciousness, head injury, or persistent dizziness, immediate medical care and assessment is essential. 

Stay Active!  Stay Safe!