Your parent fell and you are abroad: what to do in the first hour

A calm, step-by-step plan for NRIs when a parent in India has fallen: who to call, what to share with the hospital and how to coordinate from far away.

Updated 2026-09-19 · Athnova Care care team

First 10 minutes

If they are unconscious, bleeding heavily, cannot breathe or cannot move: call 112 (or 108 for an ambulance) and ask someone nearby to be with them.
If you cannot reach them, call your nearest local contact and ask them to go to the house now.
Share the emergency card (address, allergies, medicines, blood group, doctor) with whoever is going.

Do not move them if

Wait for trained help. Keep them warm and still.

they complain of neck or back pain,
a hip or leg looks bent or shortened,
they hit their head and are confused, vomiting or very sleepy.

At the hospital

Send the medicine list — especially blood thinners, diabetes medicines and BP medicines.
Ask for the name of the doctor in charge and a WhatsApp number for updates.
Ask for copies of X-ray/CT reports and the discharge summary.

Coordinating from abroad

Name one person in India as the point of contact for the hospital.
Keep a shared note of updates for siblings so the hospital is not called five times.
Plan who stays with them for the first 48 hours after discharge.

After the fall

Most falls have a cause worth fixing: new medicines, low BP on standing, poor lighting, slippery bathrooms, weak eyesight. Discuss with their doctor and make the home safer before they are alone again.

Questions families ask

What number do I call for an ambulance in India?

112 works nationwide for all emergencies; 108 is the ambulance number in most states.

Related guides

Athnova Care tracks and coordinates care. It does not diagnose, prescribe or replace a doctor. In a medical emergency in India call 112.