Assisting Elderly Who Have Fallen: A Comprehensive Guide to Providing Care and Support
/Encountering an elderly or geriatric person who has fallen can be a difficult experience. It is important to approach the situation with care and sensitivity and take steps to provide appropriate assistance. Here are some general steps you can take to help:
two first aiders are providing assistance to an elderly person who has fallen. The first aider on the left is checking the person's pulse, while the other is evaluating their injuries. The person on the ground appears to be conscious but injured, and is lying on their side.
Evaluate the situation:
First, assess the situation to determine the extent of the person's injuries. If the person is conscious and can communicate, ask if they need help. If the person is unconscious or unresponsive, call emergency services immediately.
Provide first aid:
If the person has minor injuries that can be treated on-site, provide first aid as necessary. This might include cleaning and bandaging wounds, or helping them to sit or lie down in a comfortable position. If the person is bleeding heavily, try to apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding.
Call for help:
If the person's injuries are more serious or require medical attention, call emergency services immediately. Be sure to provide clear and accurate information about the person's location and the nature of their injuries.
Stay with the person:
While waiting for emergency services to arrive, it is important to stay with the person and provide comfort and reassurance. Let them know that help is on the way and that they are not alone.
Communicate clearly:
When speaking with the injured person, speak clearly and calmly. Avoid using complex language or medical jargon, and try to keep the person as relaxed as possible. If the person is unable to communicate, try to find out if they have any medical conditions or allergies that emergency services should be aware of.
Provide information:
If you are able to, provide emergency services with as much information as possible about the person's condition and any relevant medical history. This can help medical professionals provide more effective treatment.
Be respectful:
Remember that the injured person is likely to be feeling scared, vulnerable, and in pain. Treat them with respect and kindness, and try to keep them as calm and comfortable as possible until help arrives.
Encountering an elderly or geriatric person who has fallen can be a challenging experience, but by following these steps, you can provide valuable assistance and help to ensure that the person receives the care and treatment they need.Encountering an elderly or geriatric person who has fallen can be a difficult experience. It is important to approach the situation with care and sensitivity and take steps to provide appropriate assistance. Here are some general steps you can take to help:
Evaluate the situation:
First, assess the situation to determine the extent of the person's injuries. If the person is conscious and can communicate, ask if they need help. If the person is unconscious or unresponsive, call emergency services immediately.
Provide first aid:
If the person has minor injuries that can be treated on-site, provide first aid as necessary. This might include cleaning and bandaging wounds, or helping them to sit or lie down in a comfortable position. If the person is bleeding heavily, try to apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding.
Call for help:
If the person's injuries are more serious or require medical attention, call emergency services immediately. Be sure to provide clear and accurate information about the person's location and the nature of their injuries.
Stay with the person:
While waiting for emergency services to arrive, it is important to stay with the person and provide comfort and reassurance. Let them know that help is on the way and that they are not alone.
Communicate clearly:
When speaking with the injured person, speak clearly and calmly. Avoid using complex language or medical jargon, and try to keep the person as relaxed as possible. If the person is unable to communicate, try to find out if they have any medical conditions or allergies that emergency services should be aware of.
Provide information:
If you are able to, provide emergency services with as much information as possible about the person's condition and any relevant medical history. This can help medical professionals provide more effective treatment.
Be respectful:
Remember that the injured person is likely to be feeling scared, vulnerable, and in pain. Treat them with respect and kindness, and try to keep them as calm and comfortable as possible until help arrives.
Encountering an elderly or geriatric person who has fallen can be a challenging experience, but by following these steps, you can provide valuable assistance and help to ensure that the person receives the care and treatment they need.
At Delta Emergency Support Training we are happy to answer any questions you may have on geriatric emergencies as well as training sessions for individuals or classes. We offer in person, hybrid and online classes for Standard First Aid (SFA) Advanced First Aid (AFA) and Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) courses. For all inquiries please email info@deltaemergency.com .
