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Taking a fall or having something land on you hurts. But there are things you can do to keep injuries to a minimum in this situation. NOTE: It is NOT recommended that you jump from these heights as a lark - even trained stunt professionals get hurt doing this, which is why they get paid a lot. These tips are intended only to help you minimize injuries should you find yourself in the situation described.
Steps
Falling
Falling from any distance can injure you. To prevent or keep injury to a minimum, you must stay calm. Many people twirl their arms in attempts to break their fall but it just ends up making them break an arm and landing in a way that hurts even more. When falling, it is important to stay calm. Accept that you will fall and there is no stopping it.
5–8 feet (1.5–2.4 m)
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1Stay relaxed and calm. Relax and prepare to break your fall.
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2Turn your body and tuck. Slowly but swiftly, turn your body in a motion that will prevent you from falling on your neck or back. Tuck your chin into your chest and keep your arms close to your body. Bend your knees.[1] Landing on your back is actually a fairly safe way to fall, as it's rare to break your back if you fall on it flat, but it hurts and will knock the wind out of you, making it hard to breathe for a few minutes.[2]
18+ feet
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1Prepare to feel some pain. This is probably going to hurt, but try hard to put the balls of your feet toward the ground and stay very flexible.
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2Bend your knees. Once you know you can land on your feet, slightly bend your knees.[3]
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3Use your knees and hips as shock absorbers. Tuck into a ball at first contact with the ground. When you land, land on the balls of your feet and roll. This will lessen the impact by a great deal.[4]
Weight falling on you
Sometimes when people are lifting things, these things fall on them. Many people panic but quickly get in the right mindset to lift the object that is laying on you. Your job is to stay focused on keeping your mind off the pain.
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1Stay calm and focus away from any pain you may be feeling. Try to not think about the pain. Think of something else that will calm you down.
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2Use any body part available to tilt or top the object to where you can roll it off you. Getting any part of the object's weight off your body will make it easier to get the rest off. Once the object is slightly off of you, pull yourself out as quick as possible. If your chest is under the object do whatever you can to get it off your chest so that you can breathe freely. A good ability to draw a full breath will make you stronger than if you're trying to move something heavy without being able to draw a deep breath.
Landing on your neck
Landing on your neck has a slight change of you breaking your neck. When you don't, it hurts a lot. The pain is actually a good thing - letting you know you probably haven't paralyzed yourself.[5]
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1Stay still. After you land, don't move.[6] Make sure your peers know that you believe you are fine, but that you're in pain. You'll have an urge to move around but don't - wait for EMTs to check you out thoroughly and release you. It would be supremely stupid to survive a fall on your head or neck without having serious spine injury only to start moving around and turn a tiny hairline fracture into a lifetime in a wheelchair. Be sure a doctor signs off on you before you decide to take your life in your hands.
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2Ice it. Lay down and put ice on whatever hurts or is turning into a bruise. Heat later - ice first.[7]
Community Q&A
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QuestionI attempted to commit suicide via hanging, and the rope broke. My neck has a red ring around it and it hurts. How do I cover this up so my parents don't see?
Community AnswerRemember you are beautiful, and having suicidal thoughts or attempting it is a serious thing. You need to seek help immediately. Covering this up is not a good idea. If you feel like you're not able to talk to your parents about it, you should call a suicide hotline right away or speak to another trusted adult or friend. You will also need to see a doctor if your injury is causing you pain. -
QuestionCan using bandages help?
Community AnswerThe gentle pressure of the bandage helps reduce swelling, so it may help the injured area feel better. It also prevents bacteria from getting into the wound.
References
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-fall-without-injury
- ↑ https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/08/24/641395468/surviving-a-big-fall
- ↑ https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2017/how-to-fall-safely.html
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-fall-without-injury
- ↑ https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/neck-sprain/
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/falls-sheet.html
- ↑ https://share.upmc.com/2014/08/rice-method-for-treating-injury/
About This Article
To avoid getting hurt, first try staying as relaxed and calm as you can and keeping your thoughts distracted from any pain that might come. If you do have an accident, do your best to stay still until someone arrives to help, since additional movement may make your injuries worse. When you've been checked out, lay down and put ice on whatever hurts or looks like it's going to bruise. Later, treat your bumps and bruises with heat rather than cold. To learn how to avoid getting hurt whether you're falling from 8 feet or 18, read on!
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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