Correct way to lift someone off the floor

[lainiej]

I work as a home carer -usually alone. Twice I have come across ladies who have fallen out of bed and I struggle to get them up off the floor. Whats the best and safest way to d this single-handed?

[RATTER15]

DaisyNonna, that is correct advice, unless you have been trained to detect a broken neck of femur that is the safest course of action. Where I work we have up to 3 falls a day sometimes, each and every one of them is checked over very thouroughly before making any attempt to move them. Sometime the break is very obvious and sometimes not. We still never hesitate to call 999 if we are in any doubt.

[Carakeel]

Squad, I hate to say this but your advice is downright dangerous! My mother, who is nearly 95, has had several falls. On one occasion, before I had met ratter, Mum fell in the lounge and landed on her right side. After the initial shock, she said she was fine, had no pain and asked to be helped up. I said she should stay on the floor and phoned the ambulance. My son, who always thinks he knows best, lifted her up and put her on the sofa, which caused her a lot of pain. I could clearly see that one leg was shorter than the other. The paramedics came and the first thing they said was that she should NOT have been moved, as if her femur or hip were fractured, moving her could cause severe internal bleeding. They did also mention to my son that moving an elderly person who has fallen like this is a huge no-no and can in fact be fatal! When she got to the hospital it turned out that she had indeed fractured the neck of her femur. Several weeks later they also realised she had a bad fracture they had missed in her shoulder. As ratter has already told you, a few years later she did the same on her other side, but this time she was left on the floor until the ambulance arrived and the paramedics said we had done the right thing! So please, I know you are a medical man, but this you have got wrong!

[Sqad]

RATTER/ Carakeel.....once again i find your comments insulting and sensationalist......but you are entitled to them.

[RATTER15]

Sqad, you left out TRUTHFUL!!!

[cathfromsaron]

my' manual handling of the person' training tells me you should use a hoist and work in pairs!

and if they on the floor, providing you cover them and pop a pillow under the head, they can't fall any further, and won't come to harm until another member of staff comes!

but i am surprised you haven't been provided with training, because the biggest danger is to YOU!

[RATTER15]

So Sqad, where exactly have I or Carakeel insulted you, I think we pointed out that your information and advice was wrong and dangerous, is that what you found to be so insulting?

[Carakeel]

"RATTER/ Carakeel.....once again i find your comments insulting and sensationalist"

Squad, nothing has been sensationalised here, just reported as it happend, I can assure you! Just like the rest of us, you are not infallible. I'm sorry you find it insulting to be corrected in such a serious matter, certainly no insult was intended. At the end of the day, the safest advice was more important and in fact most on the thread agreed with the advice we gave.

[lainiej]

Blimey guys! Never expected WW3! Thanks everyone so much. Lots of great advice. Elaine xx