My client fell — what do I do?

Do not move the client right away. Check for responsiveness and serious injury first — call 911 for any head injury, severe pain, bleeding, or if they can't get up — then notify your supervisor and document everything.

1. 1Stay calm and stay with the client. Do not pull them up immediately.
2. 2Check: are they responsive? Breathing? Any head impact, severe pain, deformity, or bleeding?
3. 3Call 911 if there is a head injury, loss of consciousness, severe pain, suspected fracture, or you cannot safely help them up.
4. 4If uninjured and able, guide them to get up slowly using a sturdy chair — assist, don't lift their full weight.
5. 5Notify your supervisor and the appropriate care team member the same day, even for a 'no-injury' fall.
6. 6Document objectively: time, where, what you saw (not what you assume happened), the client's condition, actions taken, who was notified.

Falls you did not witness: treat as a possible injury — you don't know if they hit their head. When in doubt, call 911 or the nurse line.