Emergency Management and First Aid for Falls

Frequently, emergency services respond to people who have fallen while in their home, taking a walk, playing golf, or working on a ladder in high places. In fact, there are various reasons why people fall and the list is endless. Nonetheless, when people fall the possibility of breaking bones, causing internal injuries, getting paralyzed, and going into cardiac arrest turns out to be a terminating factor. Ultimately, the results of the fall depending on the type of person who has fallen determine how the future will be. Babies who fall tend to bounce and walk away uninjured. Sometimes the babies are injured but the majority of the time, there are no injuries because babies are learning to walk and are expected to fall. On the other hand, babies who fall out of cribs, grocery baskets, from their parent shoulders, or from a second or third story window (or higher) are more than likely going to be injured. The injury may be minor or severe. Children and adolescents who fall also tend to be uninjured or injured in various levels of acuity. The injuries may come from falling from high places, but the majority of injuries that affect this age group are from engaging in some athletic sport. Sometimes the adolescent or teenager who falls from a sports activity realizes that if they show that he or she are injured, they don’t say anything about it because they want to continue to engage in that sport. Young adults who fall are also more than likely involved in a sports activity. However, there are other reasons for the fall and the majority of the time the fall is from a high place of from engaging in some activity where he or she slips and tumbles to the ground. One other reason that this age group fall is because the type of sports or work activity may involve parachuting. Sometimes the parachute does not open, and sometimes it does. When it does open, it was open too late and striking the ground at a high velocity will cause severe injuries, including death. Older people including those who are in the category of grandparents are by far the majority of reasons why emergency services respond to private residences, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, board and care homes, the grocery store, or the golf course. This age group are fragile and falling from a standing position can cause severe harm (specifically to the hip, arms, and shoulders) that places these people in the hospital for admission overnight or surgery. These type of falls usually occur at night and after the person have secured the house and tucked themselves into bed. When the urge arises to use the bathroom, he and she will get up and proceed to the pot. While on the way, the little dog stepped in front of them and tripped them, or the carpet or rug has a fold, and they trip and fall to the floor. Sometimes on the way down to the floor, their head impacts with a dresser or the wall. This type of injury becomes a primary injury caused by a mechanical accident that was not meant to be. The secondary impact occurs when they strike an immovable object. Once these people are on the floor, getting up may turn out to be an impossible task. These people may end up on the floor all night long, or until a family member or healthcare provider arrives to care for them. Typically, he or she breaks their hip which results in excruciating pain. Moreover, the consideration of internal bleeding is high because of the medication that this age group is taking. One type of medication that will cause internal bleeding and death are blood thinners. Some of these common blood thinners include Pradaxa, Coumadin, Xeralta, Plavix, Heparin, Lovenox, Normiflo, Orgaran. Some blood thinners are natural which includes fish oil (2-3 grams daily), garlic (1-2 grams daily), Nattokinase, vitamin E, and bromelain which comes from a pineapple. The term used for these type of blood thinners are anticoagulants. Anticoagulants mean the prevention of clots. Sometimes clots will cause major issues in the human body such as pulmonary embolisms and strokes. Hence, the reason why this age group takes this type of medication. It is crucial to call 911 for this type of age group who fall. The consequences are a matter of life and death. It is not wise for these types of people to ignore bumps or cuts on her head, or a significant fall down the stairway where internal injuries could occur which includes internal hemorrhage. The people of the world must know that paramedics can easily stop external bleeding. However, internal bleeding can only be stopped and controlled by a surgeon. Since there is no surgeon at the side of your bed, the golf course, the grocery store or anywhere else, these type of age groups fall, then paramedics are their only choice. Rapid transport to the most appropriate emergency department (preferably a trauma center) is the best option. Falls will occur because of the many activities that human beings engage. Recognizing the need to seek immediate care will make the difference between life and death. Hesitating to call 911 may turn out to be an irreversible mistake in judgment.

Ennis C. Jackson

Ennis is an Advance Life Support caregiver providing emergency care, training, motivating and educating on a national level for over 35 years with strong concentration and enormous success in business consultation, motivational and safety speaking, minor project management and customer service management. Ennis has been a Supervisor and Associate Supervisor in California, Okinawa Japan, and S. Korea with experience in leading teams and managing large groups of personnel.

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Frequently, emergency services respond to people who have fallen while in their home, taking a walk, playing golf, or working on a ladder in high places. In fact, there are various reasons why people fall and the list is endless. Nonetheless, when people fall the possibility of breaking bones, causing internal injuries, getting paralyzed, and going into cardiac arrest turns out to be a terminating factor. Ultimately, the results of the fall depending on the type of person who has fallen determine how the future will be. Babies who fall tend to bounce and walk away uninjured. Sometimes the babies are injured but the majority of the time, there are no injuries because babies are learning to walk and are expected to fall. On the other hand, babies who fall out of cribs, grocery baskets, from their parent shoulders, or from a second or third story window (or higher) are more than likely going to be injured. The injury may be minor or severe. Children and adolescents who fall also tend to be uninjured or injured in various levels of acuity. The injuries may come from falling from high places, but the majority of injuries that affect this age group are from engaging in some athletic sport. Sometimes the adolescent or teenager who falls from a sports activity realizes that if they show that he or she are injured, they don’t say anything about it because they want to continue to engage in that sport. Young adults who fall are also more than likely involved in a sports activity. However, there are other reasons for the fall and the majority of the time the fall is from a high place of from engaging in some activity where he or she slips and tumbles to the ground. One other reason that this age group fall is because the type of sports or work activity may involve parachuting. Sometimes the parachute does not open, and sometimes it does. When it does open, it was open too late and striking the ground at a high velocity will cause severe injuries, including death. Older people including those who are in the category of grandparents are by far the majority of reasons why emergency services respond to private residences, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, board and care homes, the grocery store, or the golf course. This age group are fragile and falling from a standing position can cause severe harm (specifically to the hip, arms, and shoulders) that places these people in the hospital for admission overnight or surgery. These type of falls usually occur at night and after the person have secured the house and tucked themselves into bed. When the urge arises to use the bathroom, he and she will get up and proceed to the pot. While on the way, the little dog stepped in front of them and tripped them, or the carpet or rug has a fold, and they trip and fall to the floor. Sometimes on the way down to the floor, their head impacts with a dresser or the wall. This type of injury becomes a primary injury caused by a mechanical accident that was not meant to be. The secondary impact occurs when they strike an immovable object. Once these people are on the floor, getting up may turn out to be an impossible task. These people may end up on the floor all night long, or until a family member or healthcare provider arrives to care for them. Typically, he or she breaks their hip which results in excruciating pain. Moreover, the consideration of internal bleeding is high because of the medication that this age group is taking. One type of medication that will cause internal bleeding and death are blood thinners. Some of these common blood thinners include Pradaxa, Coumadin, Xeralta, Plavix, Heparin, Lovenox, Normiflo, Orgaran. Some blood thinners are natural which includes fish oil (2-3 grams daily), garlic (1-2 grams daily), Nattokinase, vitamin E, and bromelain which comes from a pineapple. The term used for these type of blood thinners are anticoagulants. Anticoagulants mean the prevention of clots. Sometimes clots will cause major issues in the human body such as pulmonary embolisms and strokes. Hence, the reason why this age group takes this type of medication. It is crucial to call 911 for this type of age group who fall. The consequences are a matter of life and death. It is not wise for these types of people to ignore bumps or cuts on her head, or a significant fall down the stairway where internal injuries could occur which includes internal hemorrhage. The people of the world must know that paramedics can easily stop external bleeding. However, internal bleeding can only be stopped and controlled by a surgeon. Since there is no surgeon at the side of your bed, the golf course, the grocery store or anywhere else, these type of age groups fall, then paramedics are their only choice. Rapid transport to the most appropriate emergency department (preferably a trauma center) is the best option. Falls will occur because of the many activities that human beings engage. Recognizing the need to seek immediate care will make the difference between life and death. Hesitating to call 911 may turn out to be an irreversible mistake in judgment.

Vlad Magdalin

Passionate reader | People person | The one behind All dad jokes