Fall Prevention in the Hospital

At Adventist Health, our patient’s health and safety is very important to us.
We are committed to reducing the risk of falls and fall-related injuries, while minimizing the use of restraints in our facilities.

Why do people fall?

• Recent illness
• Recent surgery
• Urgent need to go to the bathroom
• Confusion
• Taking multiple medications daily, especially if they cause drowsiness or a decrease in blood pressure
• Unfamiliar environment
• Connection to lines and tubes

Your safety is our FIRST priority

A fall can result in serious injury to you. Patients most often fall because they don’t think they will.

How can you partner with us for your safety?

DO:

• Ask the hospital team for assistance EVERY TIME you need to:
  • get out of bed
  • reach for something
  • get dressed
  • get off the toilet, or
  • do a similar activity
• Call EARLY to get help

DON’T:

• Get off the bed alone
• Overestimate your abilities
• Wait until the last minute to press the call light

Fall facts

• Patients in the hospital are weaker than usual because of their illness or injury. They often do not understand their physical limitations.
• Falls are the #1 preventable threat to patient safety in the hospital setting.
• Falls are the #1 preventable cause of head injuries and broken hips.
• 25 percent of older adults who break their hips have to leave their homes because they do not fully recover.
• Together we can reduce the risk of falls and fall-related injuries.

“No One Pottes Alone” may sound silly, but it works to prevent falls and injuries from falls. Remind your loved one to use their call light if they need to use the restroom.

Your role as a family member

You have decided to partner with the hospital staff to keep your loved one safe while they are in the hospital. Your loved one will benefit greatly from having some family close by. Here are some important rules to follow:

• Watch your loved one very closely, even if they are in the bed. They may behave very differently than you are used to. They may be impulsive and may not understand their limitations.
• Let the nursing staff know if you will be leaving your loved one alone.
• Call the nursing staff for assistance at any time.
• Do not get your loved one out of the bed or chair by yourself. The staff are trained in the best ways to move the patients to prevent injuries to them.