Falls are one of the most common causes for people needing to be admitted to hospital. They can result in major injury and have a dramatic impact on someone’s confidence and future mobility. It’s a shocking statistic, but each year over 4,500 people in England and Wales die following a fall. Nearly a third of a million people will also need hospital treatment.

Anyone of any age can fall. According to the Child Accident Prevention Trust; Falls are the most common cause of injury for children under the age of 5.

• Every day, 45 children under five are admitted to hospital following a serious fall. Head injuries and other injuries resulting from these falls, can have life-changing impact.
• Falls are also a serious risk for older children. Each year, around 27,000 children aged 5-14 are admitted to hospital after a fall.

Older people frequently fracture their hips as part of the fall. They may result in them losing their independence and needing to be cared for. Falls are the most common cause of injury-related deaths in people over the age of 75.  Although the fall itself often doesn’t cause a serious injury, if the casualty is unable to get up following their fall, they are more likely to suffer hypothermia or pressure sores.  It is therefore extremely important for people to know how to deal with a fall if they have one. Falls can also lead to broken bones, which may cause the casualty to lose confidence, as they lose some of their mobility and therefore their independence.

Please read our step by step guide on how to get up after a fall, making the process safer and, hopefully, reducing the after-effects of the fall.

What to do after a fall:

If you have fallen, lie still for a couple of minutes and check that you are not seriously hurt. Systematically work your way up your body, carefully checking for pain or bleeding and slowly moving your limbs, one at a time.

If you feel able to get yourself up …

Take your time.  Roll onto your hands and knees and look for a stable piece of furniture, such as a chair or bed.

Find something soft to kneel on to protect your knees. Hold on to the furniture with both hands and use the furniture to assist you in getting up.

Bend up one leg and plant your foot firmly on the ground. Use the chair or furniture to carefully push yourself up. Take your time.

Remain supported with your head forward until you are sure you have properly got your balance. Carefully push yourself up to a standing position.

Take time to recover and phone someone to tell them what has happened.

If you’re hurt and unable to get up:

Firstly try to get someone’s attention by calling out for help, banging on the wall or floor, or using your aid call button (if you have one). If you are unable to summon help, if possible crawl to a telephone and dial 999 to request an ambulance.  Try to ensure that you have a fully charged mobile accessible at all times.

Whilst waiting for help, try to reach for a blanket or dressing gown to keep you warm. Wrap yourself up to insulate yourself from the ground, especially keep your legs and feet warm. Try to stay as calm as possible.

After a fall …

Having a fall could be an indicator of a treatable underlying health problem. It is sensible to make an appointment with the GP for a check-up and possibly ask for a referral to an NHS Falls Clinic where they can further investigate and help instigate measures to prevent further falls. There are specific muscle strengthening exercise classes, physiotherapy and lots of advice and support.

Giving first aid to someone following a fall:

• Approach them calmly and reassuringly be alert to any dangers to either you or the casualty

• Do not rush to move them. Get onto the floor so you are the same level as them and immediately assess:

  • are they responsive?
  • Not responsive – are they breathing?
  • If they are breathing. Look closely how they have fallen and carefully put them into the recovery position to keep their airway clear
  • supposing they are not breathing: start CPR immediately. Urgently request a defibrillator if there is one available.
• You might find it helpful to print our free poster on how to put someone into the recovery position so the step-by-step technique is always visible at home or in a care setting.

• If the person is responsive

  • Talk to them. Try and ascertain how the accident happened and if there could be any medical cause such as a fit or stroke – do not stress them if they are confused
  • Try and work out where it hurts most and look at them closely to see if there is any obvious bleeding, bruising or contorted limbs indicating a particular injury.
  • If they are conscious and you think they  may have fallen from a height or could have injured their neck or spine – Do not move them. Try and keep them as still as possible and discourage them from twisting. Phone an ambulance and calmly keep reassuring them until paramedics arrive.
  • For any bleeding apply firm pressure with a clean pad whilst awaiting the First Aid kit.l
  • Look for signs of clinical shock and if concerned, encourage them to lie down and raise their legs.

• If there is no obvious injury or medical cause for the fall

  • Carefully and very slowly help them into a sitting position – watch them carefully for any signs of pain, discomfort or dizziness
  • With help, carefully assist them into a chair, or back to bed.
  • Very carefully and reassuringly check them over completely to ensure that there is no unseen injury – this is particularly important with diabetics when they may not feel where they have hurt themselves.
  • Monitor them carefully for the next 24 hours, inform their next of kin and fill in an accident form.

• For more detailed guidance on what to look out for after a bang to the head, you can download our free ‘Head injuries’ ebook, which explains when a head injury following a fall needs urgent medical attention.

About us

Written by Emma Hammett RGN from First Aid for Life

First Aid for Life is a multi-award-winning first aid provider offering practical and blended learning tailored to the needs of those attending. We offer a great range of hands-on and online first aid courses for all ages and abilities.

If you support an older relative or work in care, our first aid for carers course can give you the confidence to assess someone safely after a fall and know when they need urgent medical help.

Emma Hammett is also the author of 3 Amazon bestselling books – Burns, Falls and Emergency Calls,

Slips, Trips and Fractured Hips and First Aid for Dogs.

FirstAidforlife.org.uk and onlinefirstaid.com provide this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. First Aid for Life is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. We strongly recommend that you attend a practical or online first aid course to gain vital skills to help in an emergency. These can be accessed from firstaidforlife.org.uk or www.onlinefirstaid.com