Ernest Rosenbaum, MD, is Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San...read more
- How to Prevent a Stroke
- The Legacy Project: What is It & How It Can Help
- The 5 Steps to Creating Your Legacy Project
- Symbolic Immortality: Thoughts About the Future
- Writing Your Ethical Will
- Creating a Family Tree
- Scrapbooking
- Recording the Family History: A Legacy Project Interview
- Legacy of Love: Making Your Wishes Known
- How to Deal with Emergencies at Home: Part 1 of 2
- How to Deal with Emergencies at Home: Part 2 of 2
- Going Home from the Hospital: Part 1 of 2
- Going Home from the Hospital: Part 2 of 2
- Exercises for People with Limited Mobility: Part 1 of 2
- Exercises for People with Limited Mobility: Part 2 of 2
- Bed Positioning: Part 1 of 2
- Bed Positioning: Part 2 of 2
- Care of Colostomies & Ileal Conduits: Part 1 of 3
- Care of Colostomies & Ileal Conduits: Part 2 of 3
- Care of Colostomies & Ileal Conduits: Part 3 of 3
- Home Safety Solutions
- How to Administer the Heimlich Maneuver for Choking
- How to Administer CPR
- Emergency Situation: Difficulty Breathing
- Emergency Situation: Severe Bleeding
- Emergency Situation: Broken Bones or Falls
- Before Hospital Discharge—Evaluating Your Homecare Needs
- Bathroom Aids
- Skin Care Treatments and Solutions
- Massage Therapy Techniques
- Pain Medication at Home—Top Do’s and Don’ts
- Pain Medication at Home—The Steps of Giving an Injection
- Pain Medication at Home—Side Effects from Pain Medication
- Pain Medication at Home—Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Injections
- Pain Medication at Home—Controlling Pain
- Housework Tips
- Mouth Care for Cancer Patients
- Eating and Drinking Aids
- Dressing Tips
- Cooking Tips
- Bowel and Bladder Care
- Administering Pain Medication at Home
- Activities and Aids to Daily Living Overview
Supportive Homecare
Emergency Situation: Broken Bones or Falls
An accident or fall is the final emergency situation we will discuss here. You can deal with this crisis best by checking quickly to see if the patient seems to have broken any bones. The most obvious sign of a broken bone is an arm or leg that appears bent into an unusual position. Other bone breaks are not so obvious and may need to be determined by x-ray examination. If you suspect that a bone may be broken or fractured, don't attempt to move the patient—call 911.
If the patient has neck or back pain, or has difficulty moving his fingers or toes, there may be a neck or back injury. In this case, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you not move the patient before medical help arrives. In the meantime make the patient as comfortable as possible. Carefully place a pillow on either side of the neck and keep the patient from moving his head.
Read How to Deal With Emergencies at Home
Editor's Note: This article was co-authored by Ernest H. Rosenbaum, MD, Herman Uhley, MD, Isadora Rosenbaum, and Becky Moore, RN |
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Posted in Emergencies, Emergency Preparedness, How to Care for Someone at Home, Supportive Homecare
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