What should be done immediately after a fall?

What should be done immediately after a fall?

• A. Determine whether referral for immediate medical care is necessary, thorough history and exam as well as ensuring there is no fractures or serious injury
• B. Call a family member to inform them
• C. Begin physical therapy immediately
• D. Wait and see if symptoms improve

Answer: (A)

The priority after a fall is to assess for injury and decide whether immediate medical evaluation is needed. In older adults, injuries can be occult, and fractures or head injuries may not be obvious right away. A focused history and exam helps reveal red flags such as new severe pain, inability to bear weight, deformity, swelling, numbness or weakness, confusion, dizziness, loss of consciousness, vomiting, or any signs of head trauma. Based on these findings, determine if urgent imaging or a medical referral is necessary, and arrange transport if indicated, especially if there are risk factors like anticoagulant use or unstable vitals. If there are no red flags and the person is stable, arrange close follow-up and safety measures at home. Other options don’t fit because they delay or skip essential medical evaluation: informal monitoring or delaying action can miss serious injuries, while starting physical therapy immediately or calling a family member without addressing potential injuries misses the immediate need for medical assessment.

The priority after a fall is to assess for injury and decide whether immediate medical evaluation is needed. In older adults, injuries can be occult, and fractures or head injuries may not be obvious right away. A focused history and exam helps reveal red flags such as new severe pain, inability to bear weight, deformity, swelling, numbness or weakness, confusion, dizziness, loss of consciousness, vomiting, or any signs of head trauma. Based on these findings, determine if urgent imaging or a medical referral is necessary, and arrange transport if indicated, especially if there are risk factors like anticoagulant use or unstable vitals. If there are no red flags and the person is stable, arrange close follow-up and safety measures at home.

Other options don’t fit because they delay or skip essential medical evaluation: informal monitoring or delaying action can miss serious injuries, while starting physical therapy immediately or calling a family member without addressing potential injuries misses the immediate need for medical assessment.