Caregiver first aide, choking and falls

Emergencies that can require caregivers to administer medical help to a senior loved one can happen
to anyone, at any time of the day or night. Basic medical care techniques are skills most family
caregivers should have in case of emergency. It is a great idea for caregivers to take a few classes in
first aid, including CPR, Heimlich maneuver, and emergency first aid. There are many organizations
that provide these helpful classes across the country, such as the Red Cross, American Heart
Association, and local healthcare systems. If you can’t locate a class near you, there are online
training courses you can take from home.
There are some events that are more likely to occur in seniors such as these:

Falls
Seniors are at risk for falling, especially if they have trouble with balance, loss of muscle mass or
multiple chronic health conditions.
It is important to prevent falls whenever possible, but they can still occur.
If your senior falls, don’t try to get them up without checking them out first. They could be injured
and getting them up too quickly could make the injury worse.
If they appear to be injured with a broken bone, stroke or head injury, call 911 and keep them still
until help arrives.

Choking
Older adults can experience difficulty swallowing and may have choking episodes, especially on
certain foods such as hard meats, gummy foods, and stringy vegetables. Coughing occurs often, but choking is serious and needs immediate medical attention, especially if the airway is blocked.
If your senior grabs their throat, has trouble speaking, is unable to breathe and turns blue, or can only
nod their head, first call 911 and then perform the Heimlich manoeuvre if you are trained.

Q&A

What should a caregiver do if an elder client turns blue and is unable to breathe

What is the importance of a caregiver taking various first aide/ emergency courses?

List another important emergency technique to master other than CPR

What is CPR

Describe the Heimlich maneuver

List one manner in which a caregiver can prevent falls with a client

If an older client falls, get them up immediately. True or false

Choking is highly likely with older clients. True or false

List two types of foods that may cause choking in an elder client

How can a caregiver prevent choking with senior clients