Falling is a big issue for people in later life. 1 in 3 over 65's and half the people in this country over 80 will fall this year. However, as many as 1 million of these falls can be prevented, and if you’re worried, there are lots of things you can do to reduce your chances of falling.
You might also want to think about practical steps you can take to ensure that you’d stay safe and well if you did have a fall. If you do have a fall, following these few simple steps can help keep you safe and well:
1. Don’t panic
Take a couple of minutes to gather your thoughts and see whether you’re injured.
2. Check you’re not hurt
Are you in any pain? Can you move your arms? Can you move your legs?
3. If you are unhurt, try to get yourself up
If you can, roll onto your knees, and crawl to somewhere where you can pull yourself up. If you can’t get up, try to summon help.
4. Get help if you can
Try to attract attention – bang on the floor or wall or use your community alarm or mobile phone if you have one.
5. Keep yourself warm
While you’re on the floor keep yourself warm. Wriggle your fingers and toes to keep circulation going. If you’ve been on the floor for a long time and need to go to the toilet if there’s a newspaper that could help, use that and then roll away from the wet patch.
This situation can be a terrible time for someone in later life but it does happen and it happens often. Just remember that people are always around to help others and you’re not alone. Just stay as calm as you can and follow the steps above.