When Ms. Smith purchased a Mobile Guardian from Life Safety Consultant Mike Holt back in April 2015, she thought it would be good to have because she lived alone in her apartment in Princeton, NJ. And on July 9th, she pressed the button when she dislocated her hip. Writhing in agony, Ms. Smith told Mary, the Emergency Operator, “I’m on the floor...my hip is dislocated, I bent over and it popped out!”
Mary used the information in her account and the GPS-capabilities of the Mobile Guardian to verify that Ms. Smith was currently located at her apartment and called an ambulance to come help her. The Operator then called all four of Ms. Smith’s listed emergency contacts, none of whom were able to answer their phones.
With EMTs on the way and friends and family unavailable, Ms. Smith pressed her button again in order to have someone help talk her through the pain. Mary promised her that the ambulance was en route and she remained on the line with Ms. Smith until they arrived, helping her breath and allowing her to cry. Ms. Smith was comforted to have someone to talk to during this painful emergency.
It’s a great reminder to us all that accidents happen and it’s always easier to get through tough times with the help of others. Whether you live alone, or you live with friends or family, there’s no guarantee that they will be with you when an emergency occurs. With Medical Guardian, you’ll never have to worry about being alone when you are in need of help.
Hip Dislocation
Dislocating a hip--or knee, elbow, or shoulder--can be a serious injury and is characterized by an incredible amount of pain. Since the bone becomes displaced, a dislocated hip should always be treated as an emergency with medical intervention. A dislocated hip that goes untreated can cause damage to your ligaments, nerves and blood vessels.
Healthline provides some good insight into dislocated hips, including:
What Causes Dislocations?
Dislocations typically result when a joint experiences an unexpected or unbalanced impact. This might happen if you fall or experience a harsh hit to the affected area. Once a joint has been dislocated, it is more at risk for dislocations in the future.
Who Is at Risk for Dislocations?
Anyone can dislocate joint if he or she has a fall or suffers some other type of trauma. However, elderly people tend to have a higher risk, especially if they lack mobility or are less able to prevent falls.
Children can also be at a greater risk for dislocations if they are unsupervised or play in an area that has not been childproofed. Those who practice unsafe behavior during physical activities put themselves at higher risk for accidents, such as dislocations, as well.
If you dislocated a joint in the past, the affected area could be more vulnerable to that injury in the future.
What are the signs of a dislocation?
In many scenarios, you will be able easily to see a dislocation when it has occurred. The area may be swollen or look bruised. You may notice that the area is red or discolored. It may also have a strange shape as a result of the dislocation.
Other symptoms include:
- loss of motion
- pain during movement
- numbness around the area
- tingling feeling
