After a fall

The call

When to call Triple Zero

Healthdirect’s advice on calling triple zero is broad. It says to call if a person is seriously injured or needs urgent medical help, and to ask for an ambulance if someone has a medical problem, such as:

• a loss of consciousness, a blackout or a faint, even if it was brief
• chest pain
• sudden weakness in the face, an arm or a leg, or trouble speaking, which healthdirect says could be signs of a stroke
• breathing problems
• a sudden collapse or an unexplained fall
• a seizure
• bleeding that cannot be controlled
• any other major concern about a person’s health or wellbeing

It also says to call for an ambulance if someone has fallen from a great height, has severe burns, has been stung or bitten by a snake, jellyfish or other poisonous animal, has been injured in a major car accident, or has been physically assaulted, including stabbing or shooting.

The Queensland Ambulance Service lists “a sudden collapse, or unexplained fall” among the medical problems to call an ambulance for. When you are not sure, its advice is short: if unsure, call an ambulance.

NSW Ambulance, writing for retirees, says there are usually clear signs when someone is seriously ill and needs emergency care, and that this is the time to get medical help straight away by calling Triple Zero (000) and asking for an ambulance. The call is free, day or night.

Fainting

If they fainted, then fell

A person who faints usually falls or slumps over, healthdirect explains. Its fainting page says to call an ambulance if someone near you has fainted and they:

• are over 60 years old
• have severe bleeding or an injury
• had chest pains, shortness of breath, palpitations or an irregular heartbeat before they fainted
• have a severe headache, ongoing blurred vision or slurred speech, or feel disoriented
• fainted more than once, fainted while sitting or lying down, or took longer than a few minutes to come round
• have a diagnosed heart condition
• felt no warning signs beforehand

Read the first line again if the person you care for is older. For anyone over 60 who has fainted, healthdirect’s advice is to call an ambulance.

If someone has fainted and is unconscious, healthdirect says to begin first aid using DRSABCD, and that it could save their life. Each step of DRSABCD is set out on healthdirect’s page on how to perform CPR.

A knock to the head

If they hit their head

Healthdirect is plain about when a head injury is an emergency. Call Triple Zero (000) and ask for an ambulance if someone with a head injury becomes unconscious, or has a fit or seizure. Bleeding that will not stop, or fluid coming from the nose or ears, also needs emergency medical attention. If someone with a head injury vomits more than once, or has a seizure (fit), healthdirect says they need emergency medical attention.

It also lists the symptoms of a severe head injury, and says to call Triple Zero (000) immediately if any of them appear. They include:

• vomiting
• being unable to control the bowel or bladder
• trouble seeing, hearing or speaking normally
• trouble remembering things
• blood or fluid coming from an ear or the nose
• seizures or blackouts
• weakness or numbness anywhere in the body

Healthdirect adds that symptoms of a severe head injury can start later, including after going home from a check-up in hospital. Late symptoms may include clumsiness or poor coordination, unclear or slurred speech, feelings of confusion or a worsening headache, and difficulty swallowing when eating or drinking. If any of these appear, it says to get emergency medical help. It also says to do so if, when the injury happened, the person fell from more than one metre or was moving at a high speed.

The hard part is that a head injury does not always show itself at once. Healthdirect explains that it can be hard to know how severe one is when it happens, because a severe injury may not be visible, and a person can feel well straight afterwards and become unwell later.

The wait

While the ambulance is coming

If you have called an ambulance for someone who is unconscious, bleeding or in distress, healthdirect’s advice is to stay with them until it arrives. It also says to give first aid if needed, and to start CPR if they are not breathing properly or their heart stops. On the phone, keep calm and speak slowly and clearly, and do not hang up until the operator tells you to.

NSW Ambulance says its call-taker may ask more questions to help the paramedics on the way, and that answering them does not hold up the ambulance.

Medicines

Medicines and the risk of a fall

Healthdirect says medicines can have side effects that might make a fall more likely. Symptoms you may notice include:

• changes to balance and coordination
• dry eyes, mouth and skin
• forgetfulness or confusion
• feeling unsteady or dizzy
• constipation

If a medicine seems to be doing this, the same page is firm: never stop taking a medicine without talking to your doctor. It suggests that, ideally, medicines are checked every 6 to 12 months, and says you can ask for a medicine review at any time. More on reviews, and on what to do after a double dose, is in Medicine mix-ups.