How to Deal with Emergencies at Home: Part 1 of 2
One of the fears that both families and patients have when going home is: "What will happen in case of an emergency?" This section will help you prepare in advance, and feel confident that you can handle an emergency. Even though your homecoming may be well planned, unexpected situations can of course arise with which your family helper may have difficulty coping. Good prior planning, with the help of your social worker, geriatric care manager, or doctor will do a...Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
Fall Prevention 101
“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” Anyone who owned a TV in the nineties remembers the elderly woman who fell and couldn’t reach the phone but needed to alert the paramedics. Aside from being a memorable piece of pop culture history, this phrase serves as a reminder that seniors are at serious risk of injuries, and in some cases, death, from falling. After my grandmother had open-heart surgery this year, my parents cleared the candles and magazines out of...Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
How to Deal with Emergencies at Home: Part 2 of 2
When an emergency arises, you (principally the family members) can deal with it most effectively by following these three principles: 1. Stay calm 2. Determine the exact nature of the problem as best you can and call for help 3. Take appropriate action while waiting for help to arrive Staying Calm Staying calm is essential, so that you quickly obtain the right kind of help, and determine what you can do personally for the person in distress. It will help...Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
How to Administer the Heimlich Maneuver for Choking
This is most often caused by a piece of food or other object lodged in the throat. The most effective action you can take is called the Heimlich Maneuver. It is simple to perform: 1. For a standing or sitting patient, make a fist, with the thumb and index finger forming a knob. Press this knob directly against the patient's stomach, above the navel, but below the sternum, or breastbone. 2. With your free hand, reach around and grab your...Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
How to Administer CPR
Ernest H. Rosenbaum, M.D. Herman Uhley, M.D. Isadora Rosenbaum Becky Moore, R.N. What should you do if the person you're with suddenly stops breathing and has no pulse? If the patient is under medical care but is not terminally ill, you must act immediately by applying the life-saving technique of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR is a means of maintaining breathing and blood circulation during a crisis situation in which the patient cannot continue these functions on his own. Use CPR...Read the rest of this article »Related Articles
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