Question about how to deal with elderly person who has bad fall

sallywin

If an elderly person has a particularly bad fall, hitting their head against the pavement for example, and is badly shocked after wards and you find him lying flat on the ground, what is the best thing to do while you wait for the ambulance to arrive?

Is it okay to get him to sit up?
Is it okay to give him water?

Tyron Jara

sallywin wrote: »

If an elderly person has a particularly bad fall, hitting their head against the pavement for example, and is badly shocked after wards and you find him lying flat on the ground, what is the best thing to do while you wait for the ambulance to arrive?

Is it okay to get him to sit up?
Is it okay to give him water?

Put them in the recovery position and keep them warm. You can try give them water too.

sallywin

Okay, this happened today and a guy came on the scene and said not to give the person any water in case they had internal bleeding. They said giving them water would make it worse. The elderly man said he wanted water and I just had to leave it.

Tyron Jara

sallywin wrote: »

Okay, this happened today and a guy came on the scene and said not to give the person any water in case they had internal bleeding. They said giving them water would make it worse. The elderly man said he wanted water and I just had to leave it.

Oh well didnt know that but thanks for the info. Personally I would just lay them in the recovery position and keep them warm and talk to them reassuring them until the ambulance arrived.

paraletic

sallywin wrote: »

Okay, this happened today and a guy came on the scene and said not to give the person any water in case they had internal bleeding. They said giving them water would make it worse. The elderly man said he wanted water and I just had to leave it.

Giving someone water doesn't affect internal bleeding or make it worse (I don't think). If the man needs to have surgery it's best not give him anything orally and you defo don't want him getting sick, but a mouthful of water shouldn't cause any probs.
I imaging the guy who said not to give him anything didn't really know.

I wasn't there so I don't know the full details but my advice in dealing with this again is: relax the patient, make him comfy,(if he wants to sit up, i'd let him). If you can avoid moving a head injury patient that's great but if he s unconscious and can't breath right turn him into recovery position, keep him warm but not too hot, and if he needs a drink give him a few sips to wet his mouth.

If you aren't sure then you should call an ambulance and ask the controllers on the phone for advice while waiting.

A.G.S

sallywin wrote: »

Okay, this happened today and a guy came on the scene and said not to give the person any water in case they had internal bleeding. They said giving them water would make it worse. The elderly man said he wanted water and I just had to leave it.

He was right never give any patient water ! this is also in case they need Anesthesia, the stomach needs to be free from food and water before it can be administered. While unconscious with anesthesia, you may be more prone to regurgitation of stomach contents AND your vocal cords and the rest of your throat can't react to prevent the material from entering your windpipe and your lungs. This can lead to dangerous conditions called aspiration pneumonitis or aspiration pneumonia.

Tripp

My advice if they have hit there head is to not move them at all until the ambulance has arrived and try to advise the patient not to move as any blow to the head can be serious and should be treated as such.

stretch00

Reading some of those replys, I suddenly feel the need to also call the witch doctor, and see if there are any old wives with some tales....

If the patient has had a simple fall as stated, is disabling pain and neurologically deficit free, and you can see no concerning obvious injuries, and they would like to and are able to sit up largely unassisted, restraining them is not a good idea. Try lying on the ground in the street/on hard floor on your back for 30 minutes and see how pain free you are regardless of age. Alarmingly I have found that most px have little interest in hurting themselves further, and don't tend to move bits that hurt, stand up if too weak etc etc.

The level of physiological shock as opposed to psychological (fright / scared) which will make a px thirsty that fast will have other symptoms in an elderly person, be nice, a few small sips of water will not kill them, and most assuredly will not complicate any anaesthesia or surgical issues, not unless you plan to immediately pick them up from the floor where they have just fallen off the table in the OR and induct them...........

Above all be nice, be reassuring and don't write people off because they are a bit older every day I meet people in their 70s & 80s in better shape than a lot of the 30 / 40 year olds.

raytaxi

A bit of common sense sup of water will not do any harm, and most people will not want to move if it hurts them.
If they need surgery and there is any doubt about stomach contents or risk of regurgitation it will be RSI and ET-tube in theatre for airway protection and stop further problems.

cocoshovel

Whatever they feel most comofortable doing. As stretch said, restraining them is not a good idea.

Tripp

Just to clarify on my post as i was in a rush writing it. I didnt imply restraining incase anyone thought i did. As a volunteer I generally just treat most head injuries ( Within reason of course ) as a possible spinal untill the ambulance arrives.

emmet the rover

i would be in the no water group but i would add getting a SAMPLE history and contact details of relitives to give the ambulance crew in case paitent looses consciousness

this is a SAMPLE history
symptoms
allergies
medications taken
previous medical history
last meal taken and the time it was taken
events that led up to incedent (how did they fall did they black out, trip ect)

scholar007

sallywin wrote: »

If an elderly person has a particularly bad fall, hitting their head against the pavement for example, and is badly shocked after wards and you find him lying flat on the ground, what is the best thing to do while you wait for the ambulance to arrive?

Is it okay to get him to sit up?
Is it okay to give him water?

Based on my experience, If conscious and they want to sit up and are able to do so by themselves and you are willing to support them in that position, then fine, If unconcious, Recovery position (google it if you are not sure) - do no further harm! - Keep the casualty warm. If conscious, I cant see the harm in a drop of water. By the way, how would you recognise "badly shocked"?

Reassure the casualty that the big yellow taxi is on the way as soon as Minister James Reilly stumps up for the diesel!

999nobody

scholar007 wrote: »

Based on my experience, If conscious and they want to sit up and are able to do so by themselves and you are willing to support them in that position, then fine, If unconcious, Recovery position (google it if you are not sure) - do no further harm! - Keep the casualty warm. If conscious, I cant see the harm in a drop of water. By the way, how would you recognise "badly shocked"?

Reassure the casualty that the big yellow taxi is on the way as soon as Minister James Reilly stumps up for the diesel!

Are you referring to an ambulance staffed by highly trained and dedicated medical professionals ?

cocoshovel

999nobody wrote: »

Are you referring to an ambulance staffed by highly trained and dedicated medical professionals ?

Its a running joke.

scholar007

999nobody wrote: »

Are you referring to an ambulance staffed by highly trained and dedicated medical professionals ?

Sorry, I should have mentioned above, having a sense of humour usually works wonders also.