Falls can occur at any time and often have devastating effects on our loved ones. Apart from the potential to cause serious injuries, falls also come with a shock factor that can be jarring for your loved one. What is critical when a loved one falls down is to be able to get them back on their feet safely. This means ensuring that you do not cause any further harm than has already occurred thanks to the fall. It also means ensuring that any injuries that may have occurred in the cause of the fall are well taken care of. If your loved one has suffered from a fall, here are some tips to help them get up from a fall.
Assess The Situation
The very first thing that you do if your loved one suffers from a fall is to calm them down and make a quick assessment of whether they have suffered any serious injuries or broken bones. This could be indicated if they are in great pain or if they are unable to move any part of their body. In such a case, try to keep them calm and call for medical help. This is because moving them could further dislocate or damage the part of their bodies that have suffered an injury. Medical professionals are trained to move patients who have suffered injuries and you should let them handle your loved one.
Begin The Process of Helping Them Up
if according to your assessment there are no injuries, then the next step is to start the process of helping them up on their feet. You start by getting them to roll so that they end up in a position where they are on all four limbs on the ground. This may be a little difficult if they have some bruises on their knees or palms so keep an eye on that. Help them wherever possible and keep reassuring them that all will be well.
Position Support Chairs
While they are trying to get on their knees, get two heavy chairs that are unlikely to move under the weight of your loved one. Position one chair in front of your loved one and another just behind them. The first chair is for support while the second chair is for your loved one to sit on. Get your loved one to grasp the chair in front and use it as support to lift themselves up. Depending on how strong your loved one is, you may need to help them through this process. It is also important to hold the support chair firmly in place so it does not slide towards or away from your loved one and put them at risk. When they are finally on their feet, pull up the second chair for them to sit on. You should also hold the second chair in place to avoid having it slide away under the weight of your loved one.
Final Step
When your loved one is finally seated on the chair, you should then make another quick assessment of any minor injuries. This means checking elbows and knees for bruising. it is also possible for them to have pulled a muscle so keep an eye for any redness and swelling. If it looks serious enough or if your loved one is in great pain, consider getting medical help. For minor bruising, however, you can clean and sterilize the wound to help it heal faster. If your loved one is at risk of falls, you may want to consider an assisted living community that has the proper facilities to keep your loved one safe.
