The thought of falling from the second floor is frightening, whether it is an accidental fall from a balcony or a dive to escape a fire. You are not guaranteed to survive, but methods exist to minimize the force of impact and the chances of a serious injury.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Taking the Best Position
Step 1. React quickly
Falling out of a window is an extremely fast occurrence, especially if it is only from the second floor. The first thing to do is to stay calm and act fast. You have a few seconds to increase your chances of surviving, so it's vital that you don't waste time.
Step 2. Keep your feet pointing down
The best way to survive a fall is to avoid hitting your head. Those who fall head over heels almost always die, even from the second floor. While landing on your feet may cause pelvic injuries, it is a much safer alternative than hitting your head.
- Keep your legs tight and your feet together so that they hit the ground at the same time.
- If you find yourself falling out of the head window, try to reposition yourself quickly so that you hit the ground with your feet. A fall from the second floor happens in seconds, so you need to act now.
Step 3. Lower your body
If you're trying to escape from a window and can avoid jumping, it's best to lean over the sill, drop your arms, and then drop. This will reduce the distance from the ground, minimizing the impact.
Before falling, push on the wall with your feet and hands to make sure you don't hit it
Part 2 of 3: Minimize the Impact
Step 1. Slow down the fall
The severity of injuries due to a fall is closely linked to the speed of the impact. This explains why a long fall is more dangerous than a short one. Slowing the fall from the second floor may be impossible, as it occurs in seconds, but if you happen to fall from higher heights, lie down so that you increase your surface and slow down.
If you lie down to create friction, be sure to bring your feet down before landing
Step 2. Choose a spot to land
If you have a choice where to fall, always prioritize the softer alternative. You are more likely to survive landing on snow, trees, or other materials that absorb impact better than concrete. So, if you happen to fall in an area with concrete and grass, try to land on the lawn to minimize the impact.
Step 3. Relax your body
Staying calm and relaxing is the last thing that will come to your mind as you fall to the ground, however contracting your muscles increases the chances of injury. If you stay relaxed, your muscles, joints and ligaments will move naturally and in the best way to avoid serious damage.
One way to stay calm is to focus on the steps below to ensure survival and prevent injuries. This way, you will avoid panicking about all the things that can happen to you
Part 3 of 3: Landing Safely
Step 1. Bend your knees
Just before hitting the ground, bend your knees to prepare for impact and land on your toes. This technique reduces the impact on the body and can make the difference between surviving with minimal injuries and sustaining permanent damage to the spine or pelvis.
- After your head, you need to protect your pelvis during a fall. This ring-shaped structure is made up of three bones that are found at the base of the spine. It is surrounded by blood vessels, nerves, and organs, so an injury to that area can cause serious damage, including paralysis.
- Don't bend your knees too much. Just make sure they aren't stuck in a straight position.
Step 2. Straighten your knees after hitting the ground
Land gently on the soles of your feet. This will cause you to stand up slightly, cushioning the impact on the rest of your body and giving you the push to roll. Your legs will suffer fewer injuries, so you may be able to avoid fractures and severely damage your ligaments.
Step 3. Collect the body
You should position yourself to roll forward after impact, instead of bouncing up or falling. Contract your abdominal muscles to pull your knees towards your chest, bring your chin closer to your body, and remember to keep your arms tight as you prepare for the somersault.
Step 4. Roll forward
Once your body is gathered into a ball, roll at a 45 ° angle onto your shoulder instead of doing it directly forward or to the side. Roll onto your back and if you feel no pain, continue onto your knees and then your feet. Doing a forward somersault allows you to disperse most of the energy of the fall in the movement, without putting too much pressure on the legs or spine.
- After rolling, if you think you have broken a bone or suffered a back injury, do not stand or kneel. Stay in a comfortable position until help arrives.
- Make sure you avoid impact with your head or neck as you roll.
Advice
- If you think you have suffered serious injuries as a result of your fall, such as a fracture or damage to your spine, do not move until help arrives.
- If you fall into the water, land by bringing your feet down anyway, but keep a slight angle to the surface, so that your feet are far in front of your head.
- If you are preparing to jump out of a window to escape a fire, never try to throw out a mattress to land on, as it could get stuck in the window and obstruct your escape route. Do not tie sheets together, as the knots may come undone.
- Of course, the best way to survive is to avoid falling. Stay away from ravines, escarpments and eroded surfaces. Be careful near windows and on balconies.
