We’ve all heard the catchy cry made famous by the LifeCall commercial. Although the phrase has become the root of countless jokes over the past three decades, the subject of falling is no laughing matter.
Falls are common, especially among the elderly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that one in three adults (65 and older) experiences a spill every year. While some of these falls may seem inconsequential, others are far more serious. Falls actually are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among the elderly, and they increase the risk of early death.
Some falls seem harmless and even mildly amusing (under the right circumstances), while others simply take your breath away with the fear factor that’s involved. In some cases, the fall victim might feel fine immediately after the accident but might suffer pain or discomfort within hours or even a few days later. In other cases, the need for immediate medical attention is apparent.
But one of the primary elements of first-aid knowledge is an understanding of when it’s necessary to seek help. Below are five falls that ALWAYS should mandate the attention of a physician.
Five Falls that Call for Medical Attention
If any of these following situations occur, start with a call to a physician – at the very least. The doctor may request an examination, offer advice on home care and monitoring, or might even refer you or the patient to the hospital emergency room.
It’s always best to seek medical advice in these scenarios:
- A person falls from a distance equal to or greater than his or her own height. This is a case in which there may be existing injuries that the victim is unaware of or doesn’t feel immediately. It’s the sheer impact of the fall that warrants medical intervention. The likelihood of a more serious injury or head trauma increases with the distance the person fell prior to impact. In many cases, a concussion can be present without any immediate signs or symptoms. It’s always recommended to have an evaluation after a significant fall of this nature in case there are latent injuries that do not surface right away.
- The fall victim takes warfarin (Coumadin) or platelet inhibitors and aspirin for a separate medical condition. If someone falls who takes a long-term prescription for blood thinners, he or she may be at risk for uncontrolled bleeding. This bleeding may be internal and invisible to the human eye. For this reason, it is important to seek medical attention anytime someone taking these drugs is involved in a fall. A call to the doctor with the description of the accident and any immediate symptoms would be a good first step. The doctor can decide, based on the information provided, whether an examination is necessary.
- A child under age two who acts abnormally or shows scalp swelling after a fall. Even if there are no other symptoms visible, if a child falls and then acts in an unusual way or exhibits signs of head swelling, a call or visit to the doctor is warranted. These could be signs of head trauma or concussion. In order to ensure that the child has no serious or long-term damage to the brain, neck, skull or other areas of the body, medical attention should be sought immediately.
- A person does not remember falling after the accident happened. If the fall victim shows no memory of the accident, it could be a sign of a concussion, and that person should see a doctor.
- Anytime a person loses consciousness after the fall. When a fall victim loses consciousness, even for a short time, this warrants medical attention. Be sure to describe to the doctor all details of the accident and the person’s reaction immediately after the fall.
Whenever a serious injury is involved, and it is not reasonable to transport the victim in your personal vehicle, the paramedics should be called. In addition, there are times when immediate medical attention is needed, and getting an ambulance on the scene will offer quicker intervention than making the drive to the hospital yourself.
In these following scenarios, it is usually best to call an ambulance for medical help.
- A child loses consciousness: Any time a child is unconscious, don’t wait to see what happens.
- Repeated vomiting: When a fall victim vomits more than once after the accident, a serious concussion may be present. Call the ambulance for immediate medical care.
- Repeated loss of consciousness: When a person loses consciousness immediately, then wakes up, then loses consciousness again – summon help immediately
- Prolonged loss of consciousness: If the victim is unconscious for two minutes or more, call for backup.
- Seizures: If the victim experiences seizures, don’t attempt to move him or her for transport. Call for the paramedics.
- Confusion, restlessness or agitation: When a person acts erratically, you may not want to take a chance by transporting him or her yourself. It’s a safer approach to have that person transported by ambulance where he or she can be restrained safely and receive medical care.
- Inability to walk or stay awake: When a patient can’t walk on his or her own, it’s best to seek the assistance of medical personnel who can help move the patient and transport him or her to the hospital safely.