Did someone just fall? Details

Call 911 if they hit their head and are confused, drowsy, vomiting or have a bad headache; if they cannot get up or move a leg, hip, arm or back; if they have chest pain or trouble breathing; or if they take a blood thinner and hit their head, even if they seem fine.

Otherwise, do not pull them up. Help them sit, check for pain, and stay with them. Call their doctor the same day. This page is for planning ahead; it cannot assess an injury.

Call 911
FallRisks Take the walk test
Menu
Checklist Walk test Practice the talk For clinicians Resources

Does exercise prevent falls?

Yes. For adults 65 and older at higher risk of falling, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends exercise to prevent falls (grade B, 2024). USPSTF

First: are you at higher risk?

The task force's advice is for people at increased risk. CDC's 12-question checklist tells you in about 3 minutes, scored on this phone.

Take the checklist

What the task force says

  • Exercise: recommended for community-dwelling adults 65 or older at increased risk of falls (grade B). USPSTF 2024
  • A bundle of checks and changes (medicines, vision, the home and more, called multifactorial care): the overall benefit of offering it to everyone is small, so you and your clinician decide case by case, weighing past falls, other conditions and what you want (grade C). USPSTF 2024

Ask your clinician or a physical therapist which exercise program fits you. A program that trains balance and strength is the kind most often studied.

Next: time a walk

Time your walking speed and keep a log at healthgait.com. It stays on your phone.

Source: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Falls Prevention in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Interventions, final recommendation, June 4, 2024. General information, not medical advice. Someone just fell and is hurt: call 911.