Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MGH First Responders Guide to Patient Falls
Patient fall (witnessed and unwitnessed)
Assess patient for
injuries:
Notify evidence of LOC Is patient Is patient
YES NO
responding c/o head/neck pain responsive? breathing?
clinician
c/o hip pain
any lacerations
obvious signs of
trauma YES NO
DO NOT MOVE PATIENT Call Code Team and
Suspected Consider Rapid
begin CPR
Injury? Response Team
NO YES
Notify Responding clinician and/or
Rapid Response Team
Assess vital signs
DO NOT MOVE PATIENT UNTIL EXAMINED FOR SAFETY
Assess pain
Complete neuro Head and Neck: Examine cervical spine and if there is any
exam indication of injury immobilize cervical spine; coordinate
with Police and Security to apply a neck brace/back board Assess vital signs
before moving patient‐log roll only Assess evidence of pain
Complete neuro exam
Safely move Hip: Coordinate with Police and Security to obtain a back
patient back to bed
board and log‐roll patient before moving
Monitor for changes Coordinate next steps with
at least every 4 hours Prepare patient for diagnostic testing responding clinician
for 24 hours per MD order (ie. CT scan, ECG, x‐rays)