Ensuring safety is crucial as the number of elderly people living alone increases. If an elderly person falls ill or has an accident without being discovered in time, it can easily lead to unfortunate consequences. Therefore, it is important for elderly people living alone to learn self-rescue techniques.
If there is no emergency call device installed at home, there must be a telephone by the elderly person's bedside for sleeping, and another telephone should be placed in another area of the house. After dialing 120 (emergency services in China), it is possible to enter a waiting queue. It is important not to hang up the phone at this point, as redialing will require re-entering the queue. Once connected, explain the symptoms as clearly as possible, and be sure to follow the instructions of the medical dispatcher, answering questions such as discomfort, age, and address.
Next to the telephone that is most commonly used, it is advisable to place a piece of paper with the home address written on it, along with any prominent landmarks in the surrounding area. It is also best to include the names and contact information of the main children.
After successfully contacting emergency services, use the remaining strength to open the front door.
Elderly people can keep a health diary that includes their name, age, any existing illnesses, and a record of medications they take. It is also important to keep medical records, diary entries, medical examination reports, and the most recent hospitalization or doctor visit records in an easily accessible location at home.
