06/12/2023
We wanted to share with you the falls guidance from NHS England, it is rather lengthy but terribly important - especially at this time of year! 💚
💚Overview
Anyone can have a fall, but older people are more vulnerable and likely to fall, especially if they have a long-term health condition.
Falls are a common, but often overlooked, cause of injury. Around 1 in 3 adults over 65 and half of people over 80 will have at least one fall a year.
Most falls do not result in serious injury. But there's always a risk that a fall could lead to broken bones, and it can cause the person to lose confidence, become withdrawn, and feel as if they have lost their independence.
💚What should I do if I fall?
If you have a fall, it's important to keep calm. If you're not hurt and you feel strong enough to get up, do not get up quickly.
Roll onto your hands and knees and look for a stable piece of furniture, such as a chair or bed.
Hold on to the furniture with both hands to support yourself and, when you feel ready, slowly get up. Sit down and rest for a while before carrying on with your daily activities.
If you're hurt or unable to get up, try to get someone's attention by calling out for help, banging on the wall or floor, or using your personal alarm or security system (if you have one). If possible, crawl to a telephone and dial 999 to ask for an ambulance.
Try to reach something warm, such as a blanket or dressing gown, to put over you, particularly your legs and feet.
Stay as comfortable as possible and try to change your position at least once every half an hour or so.
You may want to get a personal alarm system so that you can signal for help in the event of a fall.
An alternative would be to always keep a mobile phone in your pocket so you can phone for help after having a fall.
If you're living with or caring for an elderly person, read what to do after an incident.
💚What causes a fall?
The natural ageing process means that older people have an increased risk of having a fall.
Older people are more likely to have a fall because they may have:
balance problems and muscle weakness
vision loss
a long-term health condition, such as heart disease, dementia or low blood pressure (hypotension), which can lead to dizziness and a brief loss of consciousness
A fall is also more likely to happen if:
floors are wet, such as in the bathroom, or recently polished
the lighting in the room is dim
rugs or carpets are not properly secured
the person reaches for storage areas, such as a cupboard, or is going down stairs
the person is rushing to get to the toilet during the day or at night
Another common cause of falls, particularly among older men, is falling from a ladder while carrying out home maintenance work.
In older people, falls can be particularly problematic because osteoporosis is a fairly common problem.
It can develop in both men and women, particularly in people who smoke, drink excessive amounts of alcohol, take steroid medicine, or have a family history of hip fractures.
But older women are most at risk because osteoporosis is often associated with the hormonal changes that occur during the menopause.
💚Preventing a fall
There are several simple measures that can help prevent falls in the home.
For example:
using non-slip mats in the bathroom
mopping up spills to prevent wet, slippery floors
ensuring all rooms, passages and staircases are well lit
removing clutter
getting help lifting or moving items that are heavy or difficult to lift
The charity Age UK has more advice about home adaptations to make tasks easier.
Healthcare professionals take falls in older people very seriously because of the huge consequences they can have for the health and wellbeing of this group.
As a result, there's a great deal of help and support available for older people, and it's worth asking a GP about the various options.
The GP may carry out some simple tests to check your balance. They can also review any medicines you're taking in case their side effects may increase your risk of falling.
The GP may also recommend:
looking after your eyes with a sight test if you're having problems with your vision, even if you already wear glasses
having an electrocardiogram (ECG) and checking your blood pressure while lying and standing
requesting a home hazard assessment, where a healthcare professional visits your home to identify potential hazards and give advice
doing exercises to improve your strength and balance (read about physical activity guidelines for older adults)
If someone is injured in an incident, first check that you and the person who is injured are not in any danger. If you are, make the situation safe.
When it's safe to do so, assess the person who is injured and, if necessary, dial 999 for an ambulance. You can then carry out basic first aid.
💚Assessing an injured person
The 3 priorities when dealing with a casualty are commonly referred to as ABC, which stands for:
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Airway
If the person appears unresponsive, ask them loudly if they're OK and if they can open their eyes.
If they respond, you can leave them in the position they're in until help arrives.
While you wait, keep checking their breathing, pulse and level of response:
Are they alert?
Do they respond to your voice?
Is there no response to any stimulus (are they unconscious)?
If there's no response, leave the person in the position they're in and open their airway.
If this is not possible in the position they're in, gently lay them on their back and then try to open their airway.
To open the airway, place 1 hand on the person's forehead and gently tilt their head back, lifting the tip of the chin using 2 fingers. This moves the tongue away from the back of the throat.
Don't push on the floor of the mouth, as this will push the tongue upwards and obstruct the airway.
If you think the person may have a spinal injury, place your hands on either side of their head and use your fingertips to gently lift the angle of the jaw forward and upwards, without moving the head, to open the airway.
Take care not to move the person's neck. But opening the airway takes priority over a neck injury. This is known as the jaw thrust technique.
Breathing
To check if a person is still breathing:
look to see if their chest is rising and falling
listen over their mouth and nose for breathing sounds
feel their breath against your cheek for 10 seconds
If they're breathing normally, place them in the recovery position so their airway remains clear of obstructions, and continue to monitor normal breathing.
Gasping or irregular breathing is not normal breathing.
If the person isn't breathing or is not breathing normally, call 999 for an ambulance and then begin CPR.
Circulation
If the person isn't breathing normally, you must start chest compressions immediately.
Agonal breathing is common in the first few minutes after a sudden cardiac arrest (when the heart stops beating).
Agonal breathing is sudden, irregular gasps of breath. This shouldn't be mistaken for normal breathing and CPR should be given straight away.
If the person isn't breathing, call 999 for an ambulance and then begin CPR.
