Home Emergencies: Discomfort, Fall, Protocol, and Numbers to Activate

Understanding the Different Types of Home Emergencies

Vital Emergencies: Immediate Reaction Required

Vital emergencies encompass all situations where the person's vital prognosis is at stake. They require immediate intervention from emergency services and rapid medical care. Among these situations, we find:

Cardiac arrest is characterized by a sudden loss of consciousness, absence of normal breathing, and absence of pulse. The person does not respond to stimuli, and their complexion quickly becomes pale or bluish. Every minute counts: without intervention, the chances of survival decrease by 10% per minute.

A cerebrovascular accident (Stroke) is recognized by the acronym FAST: Face drooping (ask the person to smile), Arm weakness (ask them to raise both arms), Speech difficulties (have them repeat a simple sentence), Urgently call 15. A stroke requires prompt management to limit sequelae.

Acute respiratory distress is characterized by significant difficulty breathing, bluish lips, wheezing or very rapid breathing, and significant anxiety in the person. It can occur due to choking on food, a severe asthma attack, or cardiac decompensation.

Severe bleeding, whether external (deep wound) or suspected internal (after a violent fall, intense abdominal pain), is also a vital emergency requiring immediate emergency services.

Relative Emergencies: Vigilance and Assessment

Relative emergencies are situations that require rapid medical attention but where the vital prognosis is not immediately at stake. However, they still require precise assessment and often medical advice in the following hours.

Discomfort without prolonged loss of consciousness, falls without apparent serious trauma, moderate chest pain, mild breathing difficulties, or unusual confusion fall into this category. Assessing these situations requires experience and discernment to determine the actual level of urgency.

Concerning Situations: Anticipate and Monitor

Some situations, while not immediate emergencies, should alert the professional and be subject to increased monitoring or reporting. A prolonged loss of appetite, new behavioral issues, increasing disorientation, signs of dehydration, or a decline in general condition are all warning signals that should not be overlooked.

The Fall in the Elderly: An Event to Take Very Seriously

Why Are Falls So Frequent and Dangerous?

Falls are the leading cause of accidents in daily life among people over 65 years old. In France, it is estimated that around 2 million elderly people fall each year, and these falls are responsible for more than 10,000 annual deaths. These alarming statistics highlight the crucial importance of prevention and proper management of these events.

Several factors explain this increased vulnerability. Natural aging leads to a decrease in muscle strength, balance, and reflexes. Visual impairments, common with age, alter the perception of the environment. Chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, diabetes, or neurological diseases increase the risk of falling. Finally, polypharmacy, common among seniors, can cause side effects such as dizziness or drowsiness.

What to Do Immediately After a Fall?

When you discover a person on the ground or witness a fall, the first rule is to remain calm. Your serenity will reassure the person and allow you to assess the situation correctly.

Approach the person while speaking calmly. Ask simple questions: “Can you hear me?”, “Can you tell me your name?”, “Where does it hurt?”. If the person is conscious and responds coherently, that is a reassuring first sign.

Before any lifting, it is imperative to look for signs that contraindicate moving the person:

• Severe pain in the neck, back, or pelvis (suspected spinal fracture)

• Visible deformity of a limb (fracture)

• Inability to move a limb

• Loss of consciousness, even briefly

• Significant confusion or incoherent speech

• Heavy bleeding, especially from the head

• Vomiting

If one or more of these signs are present, do not attempt to lift the person. Cover them to prevent hypothermia, reassure them, and call for help.

If the assessment reveals no signs of severity and the person feels capable of getting up, proceed methodically:

1. Help the person turn onto their side, then onto their hands and knees

2. Bring a stable chair nearby

3. The person uses the chair to get onto their knees

4. They place one foot flat, then the other, still using the chair for support

5. They gradually rise to a sitting position

Never pull on the person's arms to lift them, as you risk causing a shoulder dislocation or injuring yourself.

Even in the absence of immediate signs of severity, some complications may arise in the hours or days following. Monitor particularly for:

• The appearance of new pains

• Expanding bruises

• Changes in consciousness or behavior

• Walking difficulties

Systematically document the fall in the communication log: circumstances, time, observed signs, measures taken. This traceability is essential for medical follow-up.

Fall Prevention: A Major Challenge

Fall prevention relies on several complementary axes. Home modifications play a crucial role: removal of slippery rugs, installation of grab bars in bathrooms, sufficient lighting, tidying up electrical cords, wearing appropriate shoes indoors.

Maintaining physical abilities is also fundamental. Suitable exercises help maintain muscle strength and balance. It is precisely with this in mind that DYNSEO has developed cognitive and physical stimulation programs tailored for seniors.

The SCARLETT program offers cognitive exercises that also contribute to fall prevention. Indeed, cognitive functions such as attention, planning, and processing visual information are directly involved in fall prevention. A person whose cognitive abilities are regularly stimulated will be better able to anticipate obstacles and react to risky situations.

Discomfort: Recognize, React, Alert

The Different Types of Discomfort

The term “discomfort” encompasses very diverse realities, ranging from simple transient dizziness to complete loss of consciousness. Understanding the different types of discomfort allows for an adapted reaction.

What to Do in Case of Discomfort

1. Make them comfortable, lying down with legs elevated (unless there are breathing difficulties, in which case a semi-sitting position is preferable)

2. Loosen any clothing that may restrict breathing

3. Air out the room

4. Reassure the person and stay with them

5. Ask about their medical history, treatments, and what they were doing before the discomfort

6. Monitor their condition: color, breathing, pulse if you know how to take it

7. If the discomfort does not quickly subside or if signs of severity appear, call for help

1. Immediately call for help (15 or 112)

2. Place the person in the recovery position (RCP)

3. Cover them and monitor their breathing until help arrives

4. Do not give them anything to drink or eat

1. Immediately call for help (15 or 112)

2. Start chest compressions: 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths

3. If an automatic defibrillator is available, use it following the voice instructions

4. Continue until help arrives

Emergency Numbers: Know Them and Know When to Use Them

15: SAMU (Emergency Medical Assistance Service)

15 is the number to call first for any medical emergency. You will be connected with a regulatory doctor who will assess the situation and decide on the most appropriate response: medical advice, sending a duty doctor, a private ambulance, or the SMUR (Mobile Emergency and Resuscitation Service).

• Discomfort with loss of consciousness

• Chest pain

• Significant breathing difficulties

• Suspected stroke

• Fall with signs of severity

• Any condition requiring urgent medical advice

When you call 15, be ready to provide precise information:

• Your name and your role (home caregiver, family caregiver...)

• The exact address of intervention (with access codes, floor, intercom code...)

• The phone number where you can be reached

• The age and name of the person

• A description of the situation: what happened? since when?

• The current state of the person: conscious or not, breathing or not, can speak or not

• Medical history if you know it

• Current treatments

Do not hang up until the regulatory doctor tells you to. Follow their instructions and stay with the person.

18: Firefighters

18 connects you to the firefighters. They intervene for emergencies requiring significant rescue resources: fires, accidents, people trapped, but also some medical emergencies, especially in rural areas.

• Fire or risk of fire

• Traffic accident

• Person trapped (after a fall, for example)

• Gas leak

• In addition to or instead of 15 depending on regions and situations

112: European Emergency Number

112 is the unique European emergency number. It works in all EU countries and allows access to emergency services (police, firefighters, SAMU). It is the number to prioritize if you do not know which service to call or if you are abroad.

114: Emergency for Deaf or Hard of Hearing People

114 is an emergency number accessible by SMS or app. It allows deaf, hard of hearing, or individuals with difficulties expressing themselves verbally to contact emergency services.

Other Useful Numbers

• Poison Control Center: in case of suspected medication or food poisoning (the number varies by region)

• Primary Care Physician: to contact for non-urgent situations requiring medical advice

• SOS Doctors: for a home medical consultation outside regular office hours

• On-call Pharmacy: for urgent medication needs at night or on weekends

Emergency Protocols: Procedures to Implement

The Emergency Sheet: An Indispensable Tool

Every home where a caregiver intervenes should have a clearly visible emergency sheet, ideally posted near the phone or on the refrigerator. This sheet should contain:

• The complete contact details of the person (name, first name, date of birth)

• The exact address with access information

• The home and mobile phone numbers if available

• The blood type if known

• Important medical history

• Known allergies, especially to medications

• Current treatments (attach a copy of the prescription)

• The contact details of the primary care physician

• The contact details of people to notify in case of emergency

• The emergency numbers

The Communication Log: Documenting for Better Communication

The communication log is an essential communication tool between the various caregivers in the person's home. Each visit should be recorded with:

• The date and time of intervention

• The care or assistance provided

• The general condition of the person

• Any unusual event, even minor

• Important transmissions for colleagues

In case of emergency, this log serves as a valuable source of information for emergency services, allowing them to understand the recent evolution of the person's condition.

Training in Emergency Gestures: A Crucial Investment

Every home care professional should receive training in first aid gestures. The PSC1 (Civic Prevention and First Aid Level 1) is the foundation, but more specific training exists for professionals working with vulnerable populations.

DYNSEO supports home care professionals in their skill development through training tailored to their specific needs.

The training “Stimulate and Create Bonds with DYNSEO Games” enables professionals to acquire essential complementary skills. Beyond emergency gestures, it teaches how to maintain and stimulate the abilities of the individuals they assist, thus contributing to the prevention of emergency situations. A person whose cognitive and physical abilities are regularly engaged will indeed be less exposed to the risks of falling or discomfort.

Managing Stress in Emergency Situations

Understanding Stress Reactions

In the face of an emergency situation, stress is a natural and normal reaction. However, it can become paralyzing if not managed. Understanding its manifestations allows for better management:

• Increased heart rate

• Trembling

• Feeling of tightness in the throat

• Difficulties thinking clearly

• Tendency to rush or, conversely, to freeze

Techniques to Stay Calm

Several simple techniques can help control stress in emergency situations:

Debriefing After an Emergency Situation

After experiencing an emergency situation, it is important to take time to “digest” the event. Discuss it with your colleagues, your supervisor, or a health professional if necessary. Do not minimize the emotional impact that these situations can have on you.

Home care structures often offer collective speaking times or supervision sessions that allow for discussion of difficult situations encountered.

Care Coordination: A Key Factor for Safety

The Importance of Networking

Home assistance is part of a care and support ecosystem. Coordination among the various caregivers (primary care physician, nurse, physiotherapist, home caregiver, family caregivers) is essential to ensure the safety of the person being assisted.

Information transmission between professionals allows for early detection of warning signs and prevention of emergency situations. A behavioral change observed by the home caregiver can be the first sign of a pathology that the doctor can diagnose and treat before it worsens.

Coordination Tools

Several tools facilitate coordination among caregivers:

• The communication log already mentioned

• Multidisciplinary coordination meetings

• Care coordination applications

• The shared medical record (My Health Space)

Prevention and Anticipation: The Best Emergency is the One That Doesn’t Happen

Risk Assessment at Home

A regular risk assessment at home allows for identifying and correcting danger factors before an accident occurs. This assessment should focus on:

The Crucial Role of Cognitive Stimulation

Preventing emergency situations also involves maintaining the person's abilities. A person whose cognitive functions are preserved will be better able to:

• Recognize warning signs regarding their own health

• Call for help if necessary

• Cooperate with emergency services

• Follow safety instructions

That is why integrating cognitive stimulation activities into daily support is fundamental.

The Home Care Toolbox developed by DYNSEO provides professionals with a set of practical resources to enrich their daily support. It includes adapted stimulation activities, practical sheets, and advice for creating quality moments with the individuals they assist. By integrating these tools into their practice, home caregivers actively contribute to the prevention of emergency situations.

Teleassistance: An Additional Safety Net

Teleassistance devices allow elderly individuals living alone to quickly alert emergency services in case of a problem. A simple button worn around the neck or wrist can trigger an alert sent to a monitoring center available 24/7.

Some more advanced systems integrate automatic fall detectors, motion sensors, or even artificial intelligence systems capable of detecting anomalies in living habits.

The Role of Family Caregivers

Family caregivers are essential partners in the prevention and management of emergencies. They know the person intimately, their habits, and their usual reactions. Their vigilance and ability to spot subtle changes are invaluable.

It is important to inform them of emergency protocols, ensure they have useful numbers, and that they know how to react in case of a problem. Moments of transmission between home care and family caregivers are privileged opportunities to share observations and coordinate vigilance.

Particular Situations: Adapting Your Response

Emergency in a Person with Cognitive Disorders

Supporting a person with Alzheimer's's disease or a related condition presents specificities in emergency situations. The person may:

• Not understand what is happening to them

• Be unable to clearly express their pain or symptoms

• Be agitated or, conversely, apathetic

• Refuse help or care

• Not recognize the caregivers

In these situations, it is essential to:

• Remain calm and reassuring

• Speak softly, using short and simple sentences

• Position yourself in front of the person, at their height

• Avoid sudden movements

• Explain each action before performing it

• If possible, involve someone the person recognizes

The SCARLETT program from DYNSEO is particularly suited for individuals with cognitive disorders. By offering playful exercises tailored to each person's level, it helps maintain the bond and communication, even with individuals whose abilities are impaired. This trust-based relationship established daily will facilitate the management of emergency situations.

Nocturnal Emergencies

Emergencies occurring at night present particular difficulties: darkness, reduced staff, fatigue of the caregiver and the person, and more complex access to care.

For night caregivers, it is crucial to:

• Know the premises and their layout perfectly

• Have a flashlight within reach

• Have emergency numbers easily accessible

• Know the specific protocols of the establishment or service

• Not hesitate to call for help in case of doubt

Emergency in Rural Areas

In rural areas, response times for emergency services may be longer. This reality requires increased vigilance and enhanced preparation:

• Ensure the address is easily identifiable (visible number, precise description of access)

• Anticipate needs: complete first aid kit, survival blanket...

• Know local specifics: volunteer firefighters, on-call doctor, neighbors who can intervene quickly

Experience Feedback: Learning from Each Situation

Analysis of Adverse Events

Every emergency situation, whether well or poorly managed, is an opportunity for learning. The retrospective analysis allows for identifying:

• What worked well

• What could have been improved

• The factors that contributed to the occurrence of the event

• The preventive measures to be implemented

This continuous improvement approach contributes to the quality and safety of support.

Sharing Best Practices

Experience feedback is beneficial to share within teams and structures. Service meetings, internal training, and practice analysis groups are privileged spaces for these exchanges.

Conclusion: Being Prepared to Better Protect

Managing home emergencies is a skill that is acquired and maintained. It relies on three fundamental pillars: knowledge (of gestures, protocols, emergency numbers), preparation (equipment, organization, anticipation), and attitude (calm, method, humanity).

As a home care professional, you are often the first person to detect a problem and intervene. This responsibility is significant, but you are not alone: you are part of a chain of care and assistance where each link is essential.

Prevention remains the best strategy. By contributing to maintaining the physical and cognitive abilities of the individuals you assist, ensuring their safety daily, and spotting warning signs early, you significantly reduce the risk of an emergency occurring.

DYNSEO is committed to supporting home care professionals in this mission. Through its cognitive stimulation programs like SCARLETT, its training dedicated to professionals, and its practical toolbox, DYNSEO provides concrete resources for quality, preventive, and caring support.

Never forget: your presence, vigilance, and professionalism make a difference in the lives of the individuals you assist. Every day, through your actions, you contribute to their safety and well-being.

• SCARLETT Program - Memory Games for Seniors

• Training “Stimulate and Create Bonds with DYNSEO Games”

• Home Care Toolbox