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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I know IABU, blatantly using this for traffic. Emergency situation, no ambulance still, and need advice

765 replies

TheChinkOfaGlass · 19/12/2022 16:35

Hi everyone

My Auntie had a fall this morning and has seriously hurt her hip. Luckily she was close enough to the bed to get herself up on it.

999 said it is not an emergency and to contact 111, she was in severe agony and is 78 years old. I rang 111 who after assessing her, decided she did indeed need an ambulance.

I had originally offered to take her to the hospital but she lives on the top floor of a maisonette, and is unable to sit up (so a car journey would be no good and I would be unable to carry her to the car anyway. I did get help but she declined due to the inability to even sit up).

Her husband is disabled so isn't much use (I mean this in the nicest possible way, he is trying his best) other than keeping an eye on her.

So we could be waiting hours for an ambulance but in the meantime she is soaked through on the bed due to urinating on herself. I am going there in the next 30 minutes.

Is it safe to roll her to change the sheets to make her more comfortable? I don't like the idea of her lying in a soaking bed while she waits. I am also scared of causing more pain/damage by moving her. We do not know what's wrong, she thinks it may he her hip. I just don't know what to do. I have never experienced this kind of thing.

Her partner has managed to change her underwear but when the bed is so wet, it wouldn't really make a difference.

OP posts:
Fireandflight · 19/12/2022 16:38

Bumping for traffic. At first I thought changing the bed would be best, but given that you don't know what her injury is, it's probably better to leave it. I hope someone more knowledgeable will be along soon.

Comtesse · 19/12/2022 16:39

Don’t know OP sounds awful your poor aunt - maybe a bump now will find someone with the right ideas! Flowers

Stressedmum2017 · 19/12/2022 16:40

Terrible situation. Can you perhaps change her then put puppy pads and a load of towels underneath her to keep her dry?

LakieLady · 19/12/2022 16:42

When I did first aid, we were taught that if you need to roll an injured person, you do a "log roll", but that requires 3 people.

My instincts are that, if she can bear to be rolled by just one or two of you, it's probably ok, but that's just instinct.

Your poor auntie, it must be awful for her, and embarrassing. I hope she doesn't have to wait too long.

Original poster
TheChinkOfaGlass · 19/12/2022 16:42

@Stressedmum2017 Just so worried about rolling her. When she moves, she is in absolute agony :(

OP posts:
Rowthe · 19/12/2022 16:43

She definitely needs an ambulance.
I mean she ca t even get to the bathroom right now.

I think you'll just have to keep her comfortable until it arrives unfortunately.

Maybe like some of the suggestions above, puppy pads as these would be the easiest thongs to get right now. Also need to be careful that her skin doesnt become sore due to being wet.

Rowthe · 19/12/2022 16:44

If it safe give her some cocodamol.

You can buy this over the counter, but need to make sure she isnt on any other pain relief.

BatshitBanshee · 19/12/2022 16:45

I wouldn't roll her until you have paramedics and know what you're dealing with. Hopefully some nice MN medics will be along shortly but could you get towels to layer under her and sort of slide them up under her? Instead of rolling or wedging. Then give her a bed bath with a flannel and some clean undies? So sorry Op hope she's Ok.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 19/12/2022 16:45

God almighty I hate that potential fractured hips are a C3.

I am not a clinician: this is just a suggestion.

If she's fractured her hip she will be in a lot of pain - she won't want to move it and probably won't be able to lift her knee up to her nose and it's possible the hurt hip/leg will be shortened and rotated (not necessarily).

Taking her to hospital yourself is not going to be possible, she will need pain relief and immobilisation so you're going to have to wait for an ambulance. Keep an eye on her and if she starts having difficulty in breathing, losing consciousness, becoming hypothermic, chest pain, anything else very nasty then call 999 again and tell them what's going on, they may upgrade the call.

Theoretically you can move her gently to try to get something dry underneath her but it's going to hurt and you need to be very very careful what you do, obviously, so if in doubt don't. Make sure she is as stable as possible - she will guide you with this, it may be that she wants support under her hurt knee but it may not; a bit of support to keep her still is fine. Also they will cut her clothes off at hospital so it might be that cutting them off her will help get wet wee away from her and be more comfortable.

She'll just have to wet herself or poo herself. They will have said nothing to eat or drink but you may decide that sips of water or tea for a bit of hydration will be better than dehydration.

Which part of the country does she live in?

BoreOfWhabylon · 19/12/2022 16:46

111 always say words to the effect of "if anything changes or you have any further concerns call back"

I suggest that when you call back and ask them to talk you through moving her to clear the wet things/make her more comfortable.

There should be clinicians available who can advise you. It's not really safe for anyone here to do so.

OriginalUsername2 · 19/12/2022 16:47

Don’t move her, better safe then sorry. Just do what you can do get her dry and keep her warm.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 19/12/2022 16:47

PS if she has done her hip then you'll know by now that rolling her is out of the question.

Lallybroch · 19/12/2022 16:47

I wouldn't try rolling her or moving her in any way. If you can remove any wet clothing, even if it means cutting it off and replace it with dry clothing and cover the soiled area with puppy pads/incontinence sheets or failing that bath towels that you change regularly until an ambulance can get to her then I think that will the best thing you can do for her. Also keep her warm.

Regretsandregrets · 19/12/2022 16:48

A fracture around hip joint is common in this age group. Pain relief and minimal movement while waiting for an ambulance.

BabyFour2023 · 19/12/2022 16:48

Don’t try rolling her. Clean her up and make her as comfortable as possible until the ambulance arrives.

AnotherVice · 19/12/2022 16:48

Log roll is for spinal injuries. Hip injury while moving isn't ideal neither is pressure sore. Be guided by her pain levels and get her onto a dry towel if you can. (Works for ambulance service, we have jobs over 24hrs old atm)

FOJN · 19/12/2022 16:49

If you must move her then you need to gently tilt her toward the unaffected side, do not tilt or roll towards the injured hip just in case it's a fractured neck of femur. Keep movement to a minimum and make sure the affected leg is well supported.

Observe the leg on the affected side to see if it looks shorter or the foot is pointing out away from the body, these are suggestive of a fractured neck of femur and may be useful information for emergency call handlers.

I hope you get an ambulance soon.

Thekormachameleon · 19/12/2022 16:49

Don't move her. I know it's awful that she's wet but honestly, unless you can stabilise what mat be a broken joint, then do not move her.
Keep her warm, give pain relief and small sips of fluid and wait for the ambulance

peridito · 19/12/2022 16:50

I think just try and keep her as warm and dry as possible .As said ,puppy pads ,towels .Maybe warm up the towels first - hair dryer or radiator .

Winter2020 · 19/12/2022 16:50

Hi OP,
In an ideal world you wouldn't move her but you might be choosing between keeping her still and hypothermia if she is wet through in bed.

I wonder if rather than rolling her you can push down on the mattress and slide something between her and the wet mattress - like bed protectors ideally perhaps coming in from each side and just getting it under her as best you can. If you have to work with what is to hand bin bags with towels on top would firm a waterproof layer. Can you get hold of a pad for next time she needs to urinate as she might still be waiting.

I hope you are not waiting too long

Racingadmin · 19/12/2022 16:51

It best not to move her if she's in bed in a position that isn't screaming agony.

You could try putting dry towels under her so she's not cold or damp but any movement risks aggravating the injury especially if a broken hip .

Definitely needs an ambulance but will likely be a cat 2 and 6hr plus wait., Second the advice re broken hip signs including one leg shorter or rotated

Original poster
TheChinkOfaGlass · 19/12/2022 16:53

I will try the towels. Apparently she does not want to drink now as she is worried about further "accidents", She is also stressed because she needs to poo. I am worried about hypothermia - I have told her husband to make sure he keeps her warm if he can not keep her dry. I should be there soon.

we are in Mid Wales.

OP posts:
peridito · 19/12/2022 16:53

I hope you can get help from neighbours /relatives .
Incontinence pad or nappy for her to pee into is a good idea .

BatshitBanshee · 19/12/2022 16:55

If you're passing a shop OP could you get some adult nappies or puppy pads? Least then she could go and not get stressed. If she's stressed about needing to poo she could be straining and trying to hold it in, adding to her pain.

TheOrigRights · 19/12/2022 16:55

Don't move her. She might be uncomfortable and embarrassed but as long as the room is warm and she is covered she will be unlikely to get too cold.
Sit and talk to her, hold her hand.

I wish her all the best.