®Step by step
You’ve fallen: what now?
First
Don’t rush. Stay where you are for a few minutes, steady your breathing and check whether anything hurts.
Could you have hurt your head, neck, back or hip, or do you think you won’t be able to get up?
Don’t try to get up
Call for help and keep warm
- Call for help: If someone else is at home, shout to them. If your phone or personal alarm is within reach, use it; if not, bang on the wall, floor or radiator to attract attention.
- Call 112: If you may have hurt your head, neck, back or hip, or you cannot get up.
- Keep warm: Cover yourself with a blanket, towel or dressing gown, and put a pillow under your head. If you are on a hard floor, move onto a carpet if you can, and get out of any draught.
- Keep moving: As far as you can, roll from side to side and move your arms and legs.
- Have a drink: If there is a drink within reach, take sips.
- If you need the toilet: Go if you need to, then roll away from the damp area.
Roll onto your side
Don’t rush. When you feel ready, roll onto your side.
Get onto your hands and knees
Push up with your arms onto your hands and knees.
Crawl to a sturdy piece of furniture
If one is not close by, crawl to a sturdy chair, sofa, bed or the bottom step of the stairs. If you get tired, stop and rest.
Put your hands on the furniture
Put both hands on the seat of the furniture or on the step and take support from it.
Bring your stronger leg forward
Bend the knee of your stronger leg, bring it forward and put that foot flat on the floor.
Push yourself up
Lean forwards and push up slowly through your arms and legs until you are standing; bring your other foot alongside.
Turn slowly and sit down
Holding on to the furniture, turn slowly and sit down.
Rest and tell someone
Sit and rest for a while. Then tell someone that you have fallen and how you feel.
You’re up
Rest for a while and tell your doctor that you fell
Even if you feel fine, a falls assessment helps you prevent further falls. You can check your risk of falling now with the 12-question fall risk check.
Prepare in advance
- If you live alone, keep your phone or personal alarm with you.
- Practise these steps while you are well, with someone beside you and ideally with a physiotherapist.
- Keeping up your leg strength and balance both helps prevent falls and makes getting up from the floor easier.
Measure it too
- Can you sit down on the floor and get up again?: test your ability to get up from the floor.
- 4-stage balance test: measure your standing balance.
- Fall prevention and balance: six balance exercises and home safety.
Frequently asked questions
Is it right to call 112 after a fall?
Yes. Call 112 if you think you may have hurt your head, neck, back or hip, or you cannot get up. It is fine to ask for help after a fall.
Why shouldn’t I get up straight away?
Rushing to get up while still shaken by the fall could make you fall again or make an injury worse. First stay calm, stay where you are for a few minutes, check whether anything hurts and think about whether you can get up.
Why should I keep moving if I can’t get up?
Rolling from side to side and moving your arms and legs keeps you warm, supports your circulation, and reduces stiffness and the risk of pressure sores from staying in one position for a long time.
I got up and I’m fine. Should I still see a doctor?
Yes, tell your doctor that you fell. A falls assessment may include balance tests, a review of your medicines, an eye test, a heart tracing (ECG) and blood pressure checks lying down and standing up. A home visit to spot hazards and strength and balance exercises may also be recommended.
Sources
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. What to do if you fall. Resource 5320/VER2, last reviewed July 2026.
- nidirect (Northern Ireland). Falls. Last modified 3 March 2026.
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. What to do if a fall occurs.