Hubby fell...how do I get him up?

[ancientone51]

Yesterday hubby fell out of the tiny shower stall in our tiny bathroom.
He's taller and heavier than I am and daughter and I couldn't get him vertical. He scooted to the bed...not fun and a bit far under the circumstances, and pulled up that way.

He is achey and sore, may have pulled a muscle near a rib, but otherwise fine.

My question is for anyone who may know...how do I get him up if it happens again? (We've already made plans, door to room stays open so bath doesn't get as hot and we are looking for a chair with arms rather than the stool...but the small stool is all that fits.)

Thanks.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Couldn't you put rails in the shower so he could use them to pull himself up?

 

[ancientone51]

Wish we could. the shower is about 2' x 4', very tiny. I took the shower door off and put up a shower curtain just to get elbow room.

Also, he fell due to the heat, passed out sort of thing, didn't have the strength to pull himself up, certainly not at first.

 

[Captain Ice]

My Dad has a similar problem.

Two methods have been demonstrated to me.

The first is the one I'd try to use if I were you as he outweighs you. This method requires two people lifting him though. The two of you stand on either side of him, facing the opposite direction. Each of you puts his armpit in the crook of your elbow, with your forearm behind his shoulder. He does the same to both of you. This distributes the stress of the actual lifting over as much of your body as possible.

Coordinating with the person on the other side of him, the two of you stand up together, keeping your arms locked in position. This allows you to lift him without causing yourselves problems.

The other method was demonstrated to me by the local fire department when they came to lift my Dad back into his wheelchair and I asked how to do it. This is a one person method, but I strongly advise against it as he's heavier than you are. I will describe it to you if you want, but this should be done in PM. It's hard to do and a bit risky for you injury wise. I almost always wind up pulling a muscle in my back when I have to do this.

Perhaps your best option is to call your local fire station and ask them if they can show you how. Also, next time he falls, don't be afraid to call them. They're willing to come and help with this sort of thing. They've been out to put Dad into his chair about 5 times over the last two years.

 

[ancientone51]

Thanks Captain Ice We can try that, but it might not have worked in the confined quarters.

If he hadn't managed the scoot, I would have called. But he'd have been really ticked if we had, especially as he was naked.

 

[Sakrysta]

You might try having stools of increasing heights for him to help you scoot himself up onto, until he's high enough that you can help him up the rest of the way without as much strain on you.

 

[Captain Ice]

ancientone, The first one won't work in really confined quarters, but if he can scoot into the bedoroom, it would work there. The second method works in confined quarters (as the person lifting him does so from behind) but like I said, I've never been able to do it without winding up with a backache or pulled muscle for a couple of days.

Secondly, if need be, could he pull on a pair of shorts while waiting?

 

[T'Baio]

http://www.lifecall.ca/

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=bQlpDiXPZHQ

 

[Australis]

Seriously? I know you may not like the idea, but a Zimmer frame would be sturdy and have multiple handholds you can use.

Humorously? Take your clothes off and say "Come and geeett iiitt..." Would work for most guys.

 

[Deckerd]

What's a hubby?

 

[trekkiedane]

What's a hubby?

Could be almost anything; collecting rocks or stamps, assembling ships in bottles, brewing your own beer, stargazing…

Oh wait - hubby of course! sorry 'bout that

 

[Alpha Romeo]

Next time don;t try. You're not trained to pick someone up who has fallen. He might have compromised his Cspine or some other major injury. I suggest you call the fire department next time.

 

[CaptainStoner]

Car battery, couple of cables.

 

[ancientone51]

Thanks for all the suggestions, humorous and serious.

I think the biggest problems we had were the tight quarters and he was slippery.

He's fine by the by and wants to get out of the house today. Still sore, but no damage done.

Again thanks to all.

 

[Alpha Romeo]

Thanks for all the suggestions, humorous and serious.

I think the biggest problems we had were the tight quarters and he was slippery.

He's fine by the by and wants to get out of the house today. Still sore, but no damage done.

Again thanks to all.

You could have hurt him more than he hurt himself. Next time, call in the professionals. Would you rather risk paralysis or his anger?

 

[CaptainStoner]

And maybe just leaving the bathroom door open will keep it from getting too sauna-like, preventing the whole chain of events. Or a strong exhaust.

 

[Alpha Romeo]

And maybe just leaving the bathroom door open will keep it from getting too sauna-like, preventing the whole chain of events. Or a strong exhaust.

Thats fine...but if it does happen again she should take the proper steps to see that he gets the appropriate help. Her actions could have risked more serious injiury.

Rule #1 in a fall: never move the person until they are stabilized.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I'm glad your hubby wasn't badly hurt, ancientone.

However, it's true that moving someone who has fallen can do more harm than good. I don't know what your situation is in terms of age or health or whatever, but you really should either call the Fire Department or make him comfortable until he is sure that he isn't hurt and can get up by himself.

 

[Australis]

Ounce of prevention worth a ton of cure: get one of those old-fashioned rubber mats that stick to the floor. Not 'cool', but very safe.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

Move hubby so that he is sitting facing away from you, or if he's laying, so that his head is toward you and feet away.

Reach under his armpits and raise his upper body to sitting, then slid your arms under his armpits from behind.

You must be in a squatting position, if he is too heavy for you, you won't be able to lift him. Rise from your squat, you are then lifting him with your legs, your arms are just jammed into his armpits they are not doing the work, nor is your back.

If he is still too heavy for you using this method, then he's just plain too heavy for you and you need help.

I've carried passed out drunks this way who outweighed me by over a hundred pounds, but hubby may still be too much for you.