Falls from Height
Falls from Height
A fall from height is likely to result in fractures, head injury or spinal injury if the person has impacted a solid object.
Falls can also result in a casualty becoming suspended in a harness until rescue. This situation causes challenges around maintaining circulation to the lower limbs of the body.
A history of what has happened (mechanism of injury) will provide an idea of what injuries to expect, however a fall from only a few feet can still cause life changing injuries.
Signs & Symptoms
- Deformity of limbs (fractures & dislocations)
- Head injury
- Unable to move
- Pain
- Pain to neck or back
- Internal bleeding
- Shock
Treatment
- Call 999/112.
- Maintain the casualty in the position they are found. Only move a person to maintain their airway.
- Treat any visibly bleeding wounds but do not move an limbs to do this.
- Monitor airway and breathing continuously.
- If the casualty is suspended begin the rescue plan.
