EMERGENCY PHONE PROCEEDURES
- Dial 9-1-1
- Ask for the service you want: FIRE, POLICE, AMBULANCE
- Give your address
- Give your name
- Give a brief description of what’s wrong
- Stay calm, don’t panic!
- DON’T HANG UP!
MEDICAL INFORMATION
It is very helpful to have medical information at easy access to emergency responders. This enables us to provide you with a higher standard of medical care. A good place to post information is on the refrigerator. Information to include would be your name, social security number, address, telephone number, date of birth, health care plan, Doctor's name and phone number, any allergies, any medications you are taking, major illnesses, an emergency contact, and your medical alert number if you have one. For a printable form to fill out and post on your refrigerator, click [
doc] or [
pdf]. (pdf format requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader; click here to download.)
WARNING SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK
Signs of a heart attack may include the following:
| Chest discomfort |
Sweating |
| Lightheadedness |
Fainting |
| Shortness of Breath |
Nausea |
| Squeezing or pain radiating throughout the body |
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms Dial 9-1-1. Delay spells danger!!
WARNING SIGNS OF A STROKE
Stroke is a serious brain illness that results from blockage or rupture of a blood vessel. Signs of a stroke may include the following:
- Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arms, or leg on one side of the body
- Loss of speech or slurred and incoherent speech
- Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness, or sudden falls
- Loss of consciousness
- Loss of vision or dimness of vision, especially in one eye
- An unusual severe or sudden intense headache
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms Dial 9-1-1. Delay spells danger!!
IN CASE OF A FIRE
If you awake in bed with smoke in the room:
- Roll out of bed.
- Stay low and crawl to the door. Smoke will fill a room from the top down.
- Test the door with the back of your hand to check for heat.
- If the door is hot, go to another exit.
- If the door is cool, open it slowly. Go to your meeting place outside of the home.
- Use your neighbor's phone and Dial 9-1-1.
- Do not go back into your home. You may become seriously injured.
SMOKE DETECTOR AWARENESS
- Install detectors on each floor of your home.
- Make sure detectors are placed near each bedroom.
- Install detectors on the ceiling or 12 inches below where the ceiling meets the wall.
- Install detectors away from air vents and bathrooms.
- Vacuum the grill work of your smoke detector and test monthly.
For help with smoke detector inspection or installation call 360-665-4451.
FALL INJURY PREVENTION
Falls are the leading cause of injury death in people over the age of 65. Each year approximately 10,000 adults die from fall-related injuries. Falls are also the leading reason for admission of seniors into nursing homes. Falls result in approximately 200,000 hip fractures in older adults each year. Falls are not a normal part of the aging process and many can be prevented. The following factors contribute to falls:
| Slippery or loose fitting footwear |
Poor lighting in the home |
| Cluttered hallways |
Loose rugs or carpeting |
| Slippery bathroom surfaces |
Difficult stairways |
| Uncorrected vision problems |
Overuse of alcohol |
| Dizziness caused by medical problems |
Dizziness caused by medications |
| Poor nutrition and dehydration |
Brittle bones caused by osteoporosis |
The following guidelines will help reduce fall injuries:
- Wear well fitting shoes with low heels and non-skid soles.
- Non-glare lighting in the home, especially around stairs.
- Strong banisters along stairways and non-skid surfaces on stairs.
- Remove clutter from the house.
- Keep electrical cords out of walkways.
- Sturdy handrails by the toilet, in and next to the bathtub or shower.
- Consider a raised toilet seat.
- Install non-skid surface or tread inside the tub or shower.
- Secure or tack down throw rugs and carpet edges.
- Proper nutrition as dictated by your physician.
- Regular exercise as dictated by your physician.
- Careful use of prescription and non-prescription medicine.
- Avoid sedatives and use of alcohol.
