Paramedic offers safety advice for seniors and their caregivers

Everyone should have a basic knowledge of first aid, but it is especially important for the elderly and their caregivers.

“Older people – simply because their bodies have slowed down, and their eyesight may be failing or their agility is lessened – have unique issues that people of a younger age may not have to deal with,” said Cheri Volta, paramedic for Capital Ambulance and first aid instructor for the National Safety Council.

Poisoning is usually associated with small children, but it can be a problem for elderly as well. An older person living in a small space, or just for convenience, might store cleaners and food near each other, said Volta. Poor eyesight can make it fairly easy to confuse the two if the containers are similar.

“If this situation occurs, it is best to call the Poison Control Center immediately – not your doctor,” said Volta. “The response will be faster because they can just type the information into a computer and instruct you on what course to take. Getting a message to the doctor could take too long.”

Do not automatically vomit, she cautions, because – depending on the substance swallowed – more damage could be done. And always follow their directions as it could save your life. The number in Maine to call is 1-800-442-6305.

Poisoning also can be caused by prescription drug overdoses. Sometimes elders will forget to take their medicine, said Volta, so it is taken again. She remembers responding to a call where the person’s heart rate was down to 20 beats per minute because she had taken her cardiac pill three times that day instead of once.

To avoid these two scenarios, Volta recommends keeping food and cleaning supplies in different cabinets, and investing in a pillbox that separates each day’s dose of medicine. Also, be sure to keep a current list of all medications on hand. Paramedics will need this information in case of an emergency.

“Another problem prevalent among the elderly is choking, because the motion of their digestive track slows with age – so consequently the food takes longer to go down,” said Volta.

Cutting up food, especially meat products, into small pieces; making sure dentures are secure; eating slowly; and chewing each bite thoroughly before swallowing can help prevent choking.

“Both elderly and caregivers should learn the Heimlich maneuver,” said Volta. “Older people living alone can ‘Heimlich’ themselves by leaning over the back of a chair or the corner of a table. They really should find a class or have someone teach them how to do the procedure because it can be lifesaving.”

Burns can be especially dangerous for the elderly because of an old wives’ tale that recommends treating burns with butter.

“This is the absolute worst thing a person can do,” said Volta. “Butter seals in the heat and can make a burn much worse. Always use cool water and do not break blisters, as they keep the burned tissue clean and free from infection.”

If the burn is large, appears deep and skin layers are destroyed, call an ambulance immediately.

All of the above information is important to help seniors stay healthy and injury free. However, the biggest problem they face is falls.

“Falls are the number one killer and cause of unintentional injury to people 55 and older,” said Volta. “And one of the biggest causes of falls is area rugs. They can be just plain dangerous. If you have one, secure it with carpet tape. I actually tripped on one myself during a call.”

To further prevent falls, she recommends keeping pathways clear, storing often-used items in low, easily reached cabinets and having grab bars installed in the bathroom next to the shower and toilet.

While an all-white bathroom may be pretty, said Volta, it is important to have contrasting colors either on the tub or floor. She recalled responding to a call in which a woman fell because her all-white tub and floor prevented her from properly judging the distance between the two.

“If you are present when an older person falls, do not move them. I can not stress that enough,” she said. “Thirty-seven percent of elderly people who fall and fracture a hip also have a spine fracture. Moving them can make it much worse. It may seem harsh to leave them on the floor until we get there, but it is truly the best thing to do for them.”

Sometimes, badly injured or not, the elderly resist calling an ambulance, she said. There are several reasons for this. They are afraid that if taken to the hospital they will never be released; that the ambulance is so expensive they can’t pay for it; or that they are disturbing the medics who respond.

“We hear this all the time and it’s upsetting,” said Volta. “Everyone needs to know that just because we come does not necessarily mean they are going to the hospital. Medicare Part B insurance covers the cost and they are never bothering us. We really love what we do and if people don’t call, we won’t have jobs.”

Learning some first aid, using common sense and calling an ambulance when you need help are good ways to stay well, said Volta.

“And did I mention watching out for area rugs?” she asked, smiling.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging in Bangor. For more information about EAA, log onto www.eaaa.org, or call 941-2865 and ask for Marilyn or Chuck.