Falls

Common falls

Falls are the most common kind of accident, but by no means the most trivial. They can cause significant head and brain injuries. Young children and elderly people are most likely to suffer a fall.

Infants

Infants commonly fall:

• from a changing table,
• from a carrycot carelessly left on a table or chair,
• from a pushchair or highchair,
• from a bed,
• from the arms of an adult or older child, etc.

Elderly people

Elderly people fall for 2 reasons.

• Physiological reasons, such as:
  
  
  • sight problems,
  • illness (drop in blood pressure, heart attack, drop in blood sugar level, etc.),
  • balance issues caused by an inner ear deficiency or medication they are taking,
  • a reduction in muscle strength,
  • poor condition of the feet and ankles,
  • excessive consumption of medication, etc.
    
    
• Reasons linked to the interior layout of the home, such as:
  
  
  • obstacles in the home (rugs, slippery floors, furniture blocking walkways, etc.),
  • unsuitable furniture (armchairs or sofas that are too deep or too low, a bed that is soft and low, a toilet that is too low, a slippery bath with no support points, storage spaces that are too high, etc.),
  • differences in level (a step between two rooms, stairs, etc.),
  • poor lighting, especially in hallways and stairways, etc.

Consequences

A fall in which a person hits their head generally results in a temporary headache or bleeding from the scalp. While such bleeding may look dramatic, it is not particularly serious, as long as it is on the outside of the head.

However, there is still a risk of a fractured skull or concussion, so you should not hesitate to consult a doctor if you have any doubts, especially if the victim is a young child or lost consciousness during the incident or in the days that followed.

Head injuries

Symptoms of a head injury

Consult a doctor if you observe the following symptoms.

• The victim is drowsy and suffering from severe headaches, as well as repeated vomiting or even convulsions.
• They are experiencing problems with their vision, hearing, speech or memory.
• They are behaving abnormally (unusually agitated or apathetic) or are walking unsteadily.
• The victim may have bruises around their eyes and blood or a colourless liquid (cerebrospinal fluid) coming out of their nose, ears or mouth.

First aid

• Lay the victim down and ask them not to move.
• Call 112 or the victim's GP.
• In the event of an open wound on the scalp, possibly cover the wound with a sterile dressing or clean cloth.