Regardless of your relationship with the victim (a person who has fallen), you will be required to help the person in one way or another. Several things can cause someone to fall expectedly. Maybe the person stepped on a weak object and slipped or any other causes. Helping to lift someone after falling is essential since it helps save life or prevent further injuries. The first thing you should do is check for any broken bones. If there aren’t any, you can then start helping the person get up and walk around a little bit. That will help to reduce swelling and stop the bleeding from occurring.
If there is a fracture, you will need to apply a splint to hold the bones together until medical help arrives. If possible, have something soft and comfortable like a blanket or pillow nearby to put under their head while sitting or lying down. Make sure not to put too much weight on the injured part because this could worsen the situation. This article shall discuss a step-by-step guide on how to lift a heavy person who has fallen and some other valuable things you need to know about helping a person who has fallen. Those things include;
Step 1. Check for any injuries
When a person falls, there are high chances of being injured. For instance, when a person falls on a rough object, the person may get some injuries that lead to bleeding or swollen parts. Therefore, you need to check if the person has any injuries before figuring out how you can lift the person. See if the person is conscious. If the fallen person has lost consciousness, he will likely sustain a severe injury like head trauma. That will cause his brain to bleed and swell.
Step 2. If there aren’t any physical injuries, then start helping the person get up
And walk around a little bit if the person is injured, but not seriously, then the first thing you should do is check if he is conscious. If he is conscious, then the first thing you should do is help him get up and walk around a little bit. That will help to reduce swelling and stop the bleeding from occurring. If the person is not conscious or is injured seriously, you should do whatever you can to help him survive. In that case, you can start by calling for medical assistance. You should also start walking around the person to see if you can detect any broken bones. If you find any, then you should stop and splint them until medical assistance arrives. Don’t worry too much about lifting the person since the medical aid will take care of it. You should keep checking for any other injuries and keep moving around the person to make sure he does not sustain any more injuries. Below are tips to lift a heavy person who has fallen. They include;
- Tip 1. make the victim comfortable
To do that, you need to have something soft and comfortable nearby, like a blanket or pillow, so you can put it under his head, knee, hand, or any other body part if necessary. That will make him more comfortable and less likely to move around a lot which could cause him further injuries. That is very important because it reduces the chances of sustaining more severe injuries.
- Tip 2. prepare the place to make him rest after heavy lifting the person
If there is nothing else around except the place where he has fallen, then you should try to make the place as comfortable as possible for him to rest. That means you should try to clear away any objects or rough materials around him, so he has a smooth resting surface. If possible, you should try to arrange some blankets or pillows nearby so he can lie down and rest. That will make his rest much more comfortable and less likely to result in him fainting.
If possible, you should also turn off the lights and try to make the place as peaceful as possible. Turning off the lights will make it easier for him to rest. If you can’t do that, you should cover the lights with something dark like a cloth or a piece of paper so he won’t see the lights and become startled. If you have some candles or flashlights, you should remove them from their packaging and put them in a safe place so they don’t threaten the victim. It would help if you also tried to make the room as warm as possible.
- Tip 3. offer the necessary support to lift the person
Depending on how the person fell plus they are heavy more than you, you need to choose the right position to lift him .ask the person to lie on his back. That will give you an idea of where his center of gravity is located. If his center of gravity is high, then you should ask him to lie on his back with his legs straight. That will put his body weight on his back, hips, and legs. That will allow his upper body to be relaxed and stable so it won’t exert too much force trying to lift him.
If his center of gravity is low, then you should ask him to lie on his back with his knees bent. That will put more of his body weight on his lower half, making it easier for you to lift him. You should also take note of the height of the object he has fallen from and see if it is easy or difficult for you to lift him. Remember, the higher the object is, the more you should bend his legs, so the amount of force required to lift him will be less.
Step 3. Call the medical team
Lastly, call the medical team for more assistance. Tell them the location of the accident and chance of injury you have found. If possible, get the victim’s name and details like his contact information and age. Also, ask them if they have a first aid kit with them or know where one can be located nearby. If not, tell them what you have already done and give them directions to where you have the victim.
Ask them to hurry because the victim could be suffering from serious additional injuries. Do not try to move him or lift him yourself because that will only increase his trauma. If he has a cell phone, you can use it to call for more help. Please do not remove it from his body unless he tells you to do so. He may lose consciousness and not be able to tell you anything further. If you do not have a cell phone, you should use your phone to make the call.
Conclusion
Inconclusion, on how to lift the heavy person who has fallen requires the few tips discussed above. Remember to offer support to his legs because this will help his body weight be distributed evenly. If you distribute his body weight correctly, then it will be much easier to lift him. If you don’t, it will become more difficult as the seconds go by and his body weight becomes more and more concentrated on one particular area of his body. When you finally lift him, do it with as little force as possible otherwise, you may cause more harm than good.