October 2, 2026 — Emergency Care, Health & Safety Tips
By Gregory Yu, MD
When we evaluate someone after a fall, one of our first jobs is to answer two questions: What areas were injured, and what caused the person to fall?
Each question points to a different kind of risk. If there was no clear trip or slip, the fall may be a warning sign of a medical problem, such as poor vision, fainting, a heart rhythm problem, a medication side effect or a stroke.
Even when no major injury is visible, the impact may have caused a fracture or internal bleeding that is not immediately apparent. So, it is crucial to make well-informed decisions and to err on the side of caution after someone suffers a fall—especially for older adults.
Not every fall is an emergency, but there are several situations that can rapidly become a serious health situation. If a person who falls has any of these symptoms, call 911 right away:
Do not try to lift someone who may have injured their hip, neck or spine. Call an ambulance for assistance and keep them as still as possible until help arrives.
Even if someone who fell can be moved safely, they may still need to emergency medical care. Help the person get to the ER if they:
Seek emergency medical care anytime someone collapses while standing still. The person may have a problem with their heart, blood pressure, blood sugar or nervous system. Dehydration, infection and medication side effects can also contribute to falls.
If you are trying to decide between an ER and urgent care, choose the ER for a possible head injury, broken bone or suspected heart or brain problem. These are potentially serious situations that may require advanced testing or treatment.
A fall can cause a concussion or bleeding inside the skull. Not everyone who has a concussion loses consciousness, and the person may look normal from the outside. Symptoms can appear immediately or develop over the following hours or days, and may include:
A family member may notice that the person seems different from usual. Some changes can be hard to recognize in an older person with a condition that affects thinking, such as dementia.
Mild symptoms do not always require a 911 call, but they still need prompt medical attention, especially after an older adult hits their head. A mild headache, dizziness, nausea, balance trouble or unusual tiredness can be a sign of a concussion. The CDC advises older adults who fall and hit their head to see a doctor right away. Go to the ER if the person cannot be evaluated promptly, takes a blood thinner or another medicine that affects clotting, or begins to feel worse.
Call 911 if the person who fell develops a worsening headache, repeated vomiting, increasing confusion, unequal pupils, a seizure, weakness, slurred speech or difficulty waking.
As people age, we’re more at risk of falling due to changes in balance, mobility and potential for side effects from certain medications. A fall from standing height can break a bone weakened by osteoporosis, which becomes more common with age. Some people do not know that their bones have weakened until a fracture occurs.
Concerning pain and swelling may not happen right away after a fall. I have cared for patients who felt little pain immediately after a fall and were later diagnosed with a fracture. The ability to stand or take a few steps does not always rule out a broken bone. A new limp, persistent pain or trouble using an arm or leg should be evaluated.
How the fall happened provides other forms of important information. Tripping over a rug, missing a curb or other common slips or trips may be easy to dismiss as an unlucky accident. But dizziness, unsteadiness or confusion may be part of the problem.
Talk calmly with an aging loved one about whether these often-treatable factors might have played a role in their fall. Even when an older adult has no emergency warning signs, tell their regular healthcare provider about the fall. Repeated or unexplained falls need medical attention.
The evaluation begins with a careful account of what happened. The Physicians PremiER emergency room staff will ask how the person fell, whether they hit their head, how they felt before the fall and whether they lost consciousness.
When you come to the ER, bring an up-to-date medication list or the medicine bottles of the person who fell, if possible. We will move you to a quiet, private room as quickly as possible.
The doctor will then check the patient’s vital signs and mental alertness. Depending on the injury, we may also examine the head, neck, spine, chest, abdomen, joints and limbs. Strength, feeling, coordination and the ability to bear weight provide clues about possible bone, joint or nerve injuries.
Then, the doctor selects testing options based on the examination and the patient’s symptoms and medical history. Some of these include:
Physicians PremiER provides hospital-level emergency services 24 hours a day, including board-certified emergency physicians, onsite laboratory testing, advanced imaging and heart rhythm testing. Our freestanding ERs offer private treatment rooms and efficient care in a calmer setting.
Treatment depends on what the examination and testing show. ER treatment may include pain or nausea medication, wound cleaning and closure, or support for an injured limb with a splint, sling, orthopedic boot or crutches. Serious fractures, internal bleeding and certain brain injuries may require hospital care or surgery.
Minor bruises, sprains and strains may improve with rest, elevation and ice. Ask a healthcare professional whether pain medicine is appropriate. Ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin can cause problems for people who take blood thinners or have kidney disease, heart disease, stomach ulcers or a history of bleeding.
After the immediate injury is treated, a healthcare provider can help identify ways to reduce the risk of another fall. This may include reviewing medications, checking blood pressure and vision, evaluating balance and strength and removing hazards around the home.
Stay prepared: Find an emergency room near you. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911.
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