How to Get Up Safely After a Fall: Step-by-Step Guide for Seniors

Considerations

It may be hard to tell adislocated jointfrom a broken bone. – Keep the person still and calm. If necessary, call 911 or the local emergency number and begin rescue breathing,CPR, orbleeding control. – In most cases, if medical help responds quickly, allow the medical personnel to take further action. – Examine the person closely for other injuries. Call emergency help right away. – If the skin is broken, it should be treated right away to prevent infection.

Try to cover the wound to avoid further contamination. DO NOT breathe on thewoundor probe it. Don’t try to line up the fracture unless you are medically trained to do so.

Cover with sterile dressings if they are available. Possible splints include a rolled up newspaper or strips of wood. – If needed, immobilize the broken bone with asplintorsling. – Apply ice packs to reduce pain and swelling. Immobilize the area both above and below the injured bone. – Take steps to preventshock.

Elevating the limb can also help to reduce swelling. nonetheless, DO NOT move the person if a head, neck, or back injury is suspected. Lay the person flat, elevate the feet about 12 inches (30 centimeters) above the head, and cover the person with a coat or blanket. Press firmly over the skin beyond the fracture site.

CHECK BLOOD CIRCULATION

Check the person’s blood circulation. It should first blanch white and then, after releasing the pressure, should “pink up” in about 2 seconds. (For example, if the fracture is in the leg, press on the foot). This will reduce swelling, pain, and damage to the tissues from lack of blood.

TREAT BLEEDING

Place a dry, clean cloth over the wound to dress it.

If the bleeding continues, apply direct pressure to the site of bleeding. Signs that circulation is inadequate include pale or blue skin, numbness or tingling, and loss of pulse.

If circulation is poor and trained personnel are NOT quickly available, try to realign the limb into a normal resting position. Tissue can only survive for a limited amount of time once a tourniquet is applied.

DO NOT

– DO NOT move the person unless the broken bone is stable. DO NOT apply a tourniquet to the extremity to stop the bleeding unless it is life threatening. If you must move the person, pull the person to safety by their clothes (such as by the shoulders of a shirt, a belt, or pant legs). – DO NOT move a person with an injured hip, pelvis, or upper leg unless it is absolutely necessary. – DO NOT attempt to straighten a bone or change its position unless blood circulation appears hampered and no medically trained personnel are nearby. – DO NOT move a person who has a possible spine injury. – DO NOT test a bone’s ability to move. – DO NOT try to reposition a suspected spine injury. – There is a suspected broken bone in the head, neck, or back.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call 911 or the local emergency number if:

– The person is not responding or is losing consciousness. – You cannot completely immobilize the injury at the scene by yourself. – There is a suspected broken bone in the hip, pelvis, or upper leg. – An area below the injured joint is pale, cold, clammy, or blue. – There is severe bleeding.

Even though other broken bones may not be medical emergencies, they still deserve prompt medical attention. – There is a bone projecting through the skin. This includes using a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards, and shin pads. Contact your health care provider to find out where and when to be seen.

If a young child refuses to put weight on an arm or leg after an accident, won’t move the arm or leg, or you can clearly see a deformity, assume the child has a broken bone and get medical help.

Prevention

Take the following steps to reduce your risk of a broken bone:

– Wear protective gear while skiing, biking, roller blading, and participating in contact sports. Place a gate at stairways and keep windows closed. – Create a safe home for young children. – Supervise children carefully. – Teach children how to be safe and look out for themselves. – Prevent falls by not standing on chairs, counter tops, or other unstable objects. There is no substitute for supervision, no matter how safe the environment or situation appears to be. Use handrails on staircases and non-skid mats in bathtubs. Remove throw rugs and electrical cords from floor surfaces.

Alternative Names

Bone – broken; Fracture; Stress fracture; Bone fracture

Patient Instructions

– Femur fracture repair – discharge
– Hip fracture – discharge

– X-ray
– Fracture types (1)
– Fracture, forearm – x-ray
– Osteoclast
– Bone fracture repair – series
– Fracture types (2)
– External fixation device
– Fractures across a growth plate
– Internal fixation devices

Geiderman JM, Torbati S. These steps are especially essential for older people. In: Walls RM, ed.Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. General principles of orthopedic injuries. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 41.

Kim C, Kaar SG. 10th ed. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR, eds.DeLee Drez & Miller’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. Commonly encountered fractures in sports medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 10.

Whittle AP. 5th ed. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds.Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics. General principles of fracture treatment. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 53.

Updated by: Linda J. 14th ed. Also reviewed by David C. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Editorial team.

– Fractures Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M.