What to do when you fall

Part of an ongoing series dedicated to raising health and safety awareness across the Temple community.

A surprising number of injuries can be attributed to slips and fall. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over 8 million Americans became injured as the result of a fall in 2007. Panic is often the first reaction after falling. However, how you react after a fall can cause more injuries than the fall itself. If you try to get up too quickly or in the wrong position, you may make an injury worse. Remember to take several deep breaths, assess the situation and determine if you are hurt. If you believe you are injured, do not attempt to get up. Instead, call 911 or get help from a nearby person. If you are on a Temple campus, ask someone to dial Campus Safety at 215-204-1234 (1-1234 from an on-campus phone). But if you feel strong enough to get up, follow these steps provided by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

• Try to fall on your side or buttocks. Roll over naturally, turning your head in the direction of the roll.

• If you can, crawl to strong, stable furniture like a chair, and pull yourself up. Approach the chair from the front and put both hands on the seat.

• Slowly, begin to rise. Bend whichever knee is stronger; keep your other knee on the floor.

• Slowly twist around and sit in the chair.

Even if you are not seriously injured, you may want to discuss the fall with your doctor. Your doctor can assess whether a medical issue or other cause of the fall needs to be addressed. As a member of the Temple community, you can seek treatment from either Student Health Services (215-204-7500) or Employee Health Services (215-204-2679).

This article is reprinted in part with permission from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is part of an ongoing series of health and safety articles aiming to raise awareness among Temple University employees, faculty and students about a range of health and safety issues. This is an initiative developed by Temple’s Health and Safety Committee, comprising members from across the University community. If you have health and safety questions, suggestions or concerns, please e-mail the Health and Safety Committee at healthandsafety@temple.edu.