Supervising a fallen person who is conscious and uninjured

Firstly, do not panic; they cannot fall any further. Check the immediate environment for risks, such as a wet floor. 

1. Ask the client if they are hurt anywhere. Did they bang their head? 

2. Do they remember falling? If they appear unhurt, ask staff not required to leave 

3. Place a pillow under their head for comfort – remember touching the head can be taboo in some cultures, so always talk to the client and explain what you are doing 

4. Cover them if required 

5. Ask if they think they could stand themselves up with instruction 

6. Ask the person to roll on to their side then get on to hands and knees 

7. When they have done this, ask if they are dizzy or feeling worse – if they are, get the client to lie down and hoist them instead 

8. Once they are on their hands and knees, place a chair as close as possible to the client’s hip. Ask them to use the chair to lean on with their closest hand, and using their nearest leg get them to put their foot flat on the floor then push up into a sitting position using their leg and arm 

9. Alternatively, the client may prefer to use their furthest leg and foot to provide extra balance, particularly if the person is large 

10. If the person cannot get onto the chair, get them to lie down again and hoist them. This technique can be taught to some people who have a history of falling to reassure them that they can get up from the floor independently, particularly pre‑discharge from a hospital or care facility. They will need to crawl to a stable piece of furniture that they can use to push themselves up 

One Chair