Falls happen too often. According to the CDC, one in four people age 65 and older experience a fall, and only half of those who fall tell anyone.

If the unfortunate happens and you do fall, it’s important to know what to do next. Our AFC Urgent Care Chattanooga team provides some helpful tips and info below, so keep reading!

• Here’s what to do: Check for injuries. This should be the first thing you do when you fall. Take a minute or two to examine your body for pain and injuries, and if you can, try to get up from the floor. If you are hurt or unable to get off the floor, however, call for help.
• What to do next: If any area of your body is causing lots of pain and is beginning to swell, it’s possible that you may have broken a bone. Visit your doctor or our AFC center to get an X-ray.
• What to do after: To prevent another fall from happening, make a point to exercise often once you’ve healed. Staying active and getting 150 minutes of exercise each week builds strength and flexibility, which reduces your risk of falling again.
• Another prevention tip: Remove potential fall hazards from your home. To do this, take a look around frequently used spaces and walkways in the house. Remove loose wires and boxes, make sure rugs aren’t loose and clean up all spills quickly.
• Something else to keep in mind: Get enough sleep. When you get a recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night, you are less likely to fall.
• One more thing: To lower your fall risk even more, wear safe footwear like shoes or socks with rubber grips on the bottom. Floppy slippers and slippery socks can increase your chances of slipping and falling.
• Action steps to take: Once a fall happens, it doubles the chances of another one happening. Talk to your doctor about your potential fall risk before a fall happens.
• Doctor recommendations: If you take any prescription or OTC medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medications to see if any might make you dizzy or sleepy. Dizziness and sleepiness can increase your fall risk.

Have any other questions or concerns? Don’t hesitate to reach out today!