When you or someone you care for has a fall, it's important that you know how to properly react. Responding to a fall properly is key to limiting the extent of the injuries caused. By being signed up to our GP home doctor service in Costa del Sol you'll be prepared should a fall occur and we'll be there as soon as we can to make sure whoever has fallen receives the best possible treatment.
Aside from calling us as soon as possible, there are a few other things you should do when responding to a fall. Here we'll tell you everything you need to do to reduce the extent of the injury and lower the risk of permanent damage.
Responding to a Fall
There are several steps that you can take when responding to a fall. The most important thing you should do is call our GP home doctor service so that we can get to the scene of the fall and administer any necessary first aid. But there are some things that you can do before we arrive to help whoever has fallen.
Step 1: Check Their Vitals
The first thing you need to do is make sure that whoever has fallen is still breathing and whether they're conscious. If they're unconscious and unresponsive you'll need to check for a pulse either in their neck or their wrist. You'll need to let us know all this information when you call us so that we can prepare correctly for our visit to you.
Step 2: Get Help
Once you've established whether they're breathing, responsive and whether or not they have a pulse, it's time to call our GP home doctor service. We'll ask you to tell us all the information you gathered in step one and may give you some basic instructions on moving the person. If you find at any stage that they experience any sharp pain, do not move them any further! Providing they don't feel any sharp pain, try to help them gently into a nearby chair so that they can rest comfortably. Remember to use proper lifting procedures to avoid hurting yourself. If they're too heavy to lift, make them as comfortable as possible until our GP home doctor service arrives to help.
Step 3: Make the Patient Comfortable
It's important that you emotionally reassure the patient as much as possible. Make sure you remind them that help is on the way. This will go a long way to helping them feel comfortable and relaxed.
Answer any questions they may have as well as you can and try to keep talking to them. If you can, try giving them a blanket to keep them warm and comfortable.
These steps should go a long way to helping whoever has fallen and looked after them until our GP home doctor service can get to you.
If you would like to know more about our GP home doctor service in the Costa del Sol for falls, check out our website or call our team.