How to get up from the floor (after a fall) - MacGyver style!

The video, meant for seniors and people with balance problems, raises awareness that common items in the household can often be turned into surprisingly effective makeshift fall-rescue tools.

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[vanessabrown]

Only 2 days after watching this video I actually tripped over in a car park and fell full length. I asked my partner to get the esky out of the car and was able to easily get myself upright by using this. Thank you

[margaretcooper]

I spent 5 days on the floor of my house after I broke my hip and spine when I fell.I was rescued by neighbours who had been on holiday, I doubt if I would have survived if they had come even a day later.I am forever grateful to them, for saving my life.

[ajmheb]

I am elderly, over weight, and disabled with knee replacements, pinched sciatic nerve and bad hips. I fell yesterday, and hip scooted to the bed, grabbed a pillow, twisted around and put my bad knee on the pillow, dragged my right foot( with fused big toe and ankle) into place with my right hand) then pushed with arms and leg to get off the floor. Hell yes it hurt, but I persevered. My dignity and independence is very important to me. I say thank you to the young lady for taking time to help us old folks, no matter what shoes she had on. If you don’t try, you die!

[pegparrish]

When my mother fell and my sister couldn’t get her up, she remembered the aero bed we had. She laid it on the floor, rolled my mother on to it and inflated the bed. My mom then sat up, swung her legs over and stood up. I thought that was genius!

[mervyndykes]

I was a bit disappointed in some of the comments to this video. Yes, the young lady doing the demonstrations is very fit and capable, however, the important part of the video for me was the mindset she was advocating. Think like MacGyver! It is amazing what you can do if you are creative. I am in my 80s and have fallen several times, but only once was I unable to get up without help (because of the twisting of my body in the fall). Usually there is something in your environment that can be used in a creative way. It's not always easy, but knowledge is power and it's amazing what you can do if you get creative and are not seriously hurt. Thanks for the advice and encouragement.

[janish]

Not for nothing, but she did say these are not for everybody and their conditions, but to the best of her ability she was trying to help those who have some strength and mobility in different parts of their body to find an easy way to get up. And I give her credit for that😊

[jeanbarton]

Having a recent fall, totally embarrassing, outside on my lawn, but landed in gravel. I could not get up no matter what I tried. Having two hip replacements & badly needing a torn ACL or total knee replacement, I was helpless trying to get up despite getting to my knees. I could not get any purchase on the side of my house, so crawled back on all fours to a chain link fence thru gravel & with all my strength pulled myself up. All I could think of was, ‘ I hope my neighbours didn’t see me!’ Man, it sure is challenging getting older!

[strwbryparfait]

These were great! As an RN I have taken care of elderly hospitalized after falls, not from the fall, but from staying down. Learning to keep your wits and use what you do have is so important! I knew one lady who fell outside and scooted on her bottom and pulled herself up using a small tree. We all need to encourage elderly to use what they DO have and not give up. Outstanding video IMO 😊

[rickymcintosh]

I was trapped Sunday on the floor in a tight hall way, i got half way up fell down, i have mobility problems and i can walk 25 feet, but i needed to check the dryer for a leak and could not get back up, so i but scooted thru the hall on my but, i got on my side and was able to craw thru the kicthen into the bed room and i was tired, i rested for a while on the floor, then i could not push myself up, so i got on my knees and flopped my body on the bed and wiggled myself upon the bed and i was able to get back up, Thank God he knew what to do and told me, i saw one of your videos a long time ago But GOD told me what to do Thank you

[angelareimann]

My mum recently used your (practised and discussed) technique to get up after fall in the garden. Crawled over soft grass to the chair at the back door. Took her time. Got up. Yes, had no phone or her safety beeper on her. So proud of her.

[sherrynan]

I hope everyone watches this video…its been months since I watched. I fell this week & I didn’t wait to try to get up. I remembered this video, and I managed to get up. I used what I had and before the pain set in I was up! Bleeding & feeling some pain, but I was able to get to the phone. I now take the phone with me everywhere, even the bathroom!

[elaineedgington]

Being 75 years old and having found myself in the floor/yard more than a few times I appreciate these ideas!

[fromjenniferscloset]

I shared this with my 94 year old mother about 2 months ago. I had just had a total knee replacement. During week 3 of recovery from the surgery, I fell in the yard. Ideas from this video helped get me to my feet. Then this morning, my mother found herself on the floor looking for something. After realizing the predicament she was in, the ideas, thanks to this video, clicked in and she was able to get up. Said she was worn out be UP and glad she had seen the video. My mother said that the video had given her the ideas ad the confidence. I got to thinking about my recent fall and how confident I had been that I would find a way, also. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video. The information is invaluable.❤

[drshelkie]

I am a Primary Care physician with 20+ years experience. My father is 80 with limited mobility. I’m going to go see him Tomorrow to find some practical applications of theses methods for him.
Thank You! There are aspects of these useful for ANYONE regardless of age or ability.

[andreatuckman]

So today I found myself on my back in the bathroom. Luckily I remembered your video, turned on my side, pulled over a bath mat, and grabbed hold of the tub. I got up without sliding and instantly thought of you! Thank you 😊

[jannetteberends]

I’m in a telephone circle. Each day at 8.30 pm I’m get a phone call. After this call I call the next one in the circle, and that one calls the next. And so on until the circle is closed. So I wouldn’t lay on the ground for longer than a day. But the tips are great.

[jvsaints]

I recently broke my dominant arm in a fall while outside on my deck. I knew there would be a good chance that I would not get help for some time since I live by myself. I decided to use the adrenaline in my body to get myself up. I am 70 years old and have had two knee replacements. I truly "rigged" my escape using the deck furniture. I must say it was very painful to get up but I was determined. I had surgery two weeks later and had 14 screws placed in the plate. I'm still having OT and I am recovering nicely. The wakeup call for me was this. I need to increase my endurance, balance and strength significantly. I bought a watch where I can summon help, if needed. It is time to be accountable.

[Kacee]

I'm 68 and never thought this would be a problem. Now I realize that it is. Getting old sucks.

[carolbyers]

I agree this may help a person with no pains in their knees or legs. I sure would like to see a person who has extreme pain in there knees like many of us, try to get up from any of these falls. With what you have shown to us. Of course you csn do it because you have no pain.

[delfine]

At 77 I fell in front garden on gravel, no one passes here, and I can’t kneel, could not haul myself up against locked car or front door (luckily open) so I had to shuffle on my bum using elbows for leverage into house and through to living room where I pulled cushion off armchair and levered myself backwards, like a board, onto the base of the chair. It took me 45 minutes and bloodied elbows but I did it.