Elderly falls: if someone falls, first kneel down, call out to them, and dial 120 — don’t rush to help them up. It is perfectly legal to walk away from strangers; once you stop, however, you must not touch or move them.

2. Elderly falls: if someone falls, first kneel down, call out to them, and dial 120 — don’t rush to help them up. It is perfectly legal to walk away from strangers; once you stop, however, you must not touch or move them.

Cost: No money is required. Kneeling down to ask a few questions and making a phone call takes only a few minutes. The hard part is resisting the urge to reach out and help. For strangers, there’s an extra cost to consider: calling 120 leaves your phone number on record, which may result in follow-up calls or inquiries. If family members later target you, legal battles can last months, and even if you ultimately win, you’ll still have to pay your own legal fees.

In plain terms: This guidance is primarily aimed at one’s own elderly relatives and people you know well. First, check whether they’re breathing; if not, follow step 1 (perform chest compressions). Even if they are breathing, don’t lift them up — they may have suffered a stroke or fainting spell prior to the fall, and forced movement could worsen injuries. Instead, kneel down, speak to them, and ask if they remember how they fell. If they complain of back pain or seem to have a fracture, do not move them; call 120 right away.

Benefit: The Ministry of Health’s “Technical Guidelines for Intervention in Elderly Falls” states two key points: “Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among people aged 65 and older in China,” and “When an elderly person falls, do not rush to help them up; instead, respond according to the specific circumstances.” For those who are unconscious, immediately call emergency services. If they’re vomiting, turn their head to one side and clear any vomit from their mouth and nose. If breathing or heartbeat has stopped, start chest compressions at once. The guidelines also note: “If moving the person is necessary, do so gently and keep them as flat as possible.” For conscious individuals, ask whether they recall the fall; if not, it may indicate fainting or a cerebrovascular event. If they suffer severe headaches, facial drooping, slurred speech, or limb weakness, lifting them could worsen bleeding or ischemia in the brain. Likewise, if there are signs of fracture, back pain, or incontinence, avoid moving them unless you have relevant medical training. In all these cases, call 120 immediately. If the elderly person wishes to stand up on their own, assist them slowly, then let them sit or lie down while you monitor them until you’re sure they’re alright. Regarding fears of being held liable, the law is clear: Article 90 of the Supreme People’s Court Interpretation of the Civil Procedure Law states that “any party making a claim must provide evidence to support it; failure to do so results in losing the case.” Article 1198 of the Civil Code obliges operators of public venues — hotels, malls, banks, stations, airports, sports arenas, entertainment venues, etc. — to uphold safety standards; failure to do so makes them legally responsible for any resulting harm. Conversely, Article 184 protects anyone who voluntarily and urgently helps another person: “A rescuer bears no civil liability for any harm caused to the victim during such efforts.” A notable court case involved a pharmacy owner who performed CPR on a cardiac arrest victim, inadvertently breaking several ribs. The victim required 18 days of hospitalization and sought over 9,000 yuan in compensation; the court ruled in favor of the rescuer, absolving him of liability.

Evidence grade: B

Sources: Ministry of Health (2011). Technical Guidelines for Intervention of Falls in the Elderly ("Treatment of Falls in the Elderly"). For the full text PDF, see the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention <http://cdcp.gd.gov.cn/gcdcdfiles/editor/uploadfile/20111027094832117.pdf>. For the full text of the on-site treatment section, see Guinan County People's Government for reprinting. <https://www.guinan.gov.cn/lnb/zc1__zwgk/zc/aztfl/qt/content_27609778>; National People’s Congress (2020). Civil Code (Articles 183, 184). <https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml>; Supreme People's Court of China (2023). Typical cases of the People's Court focusing on fairness and efficiency in implementing core socialist values (Case 13, Qi Moumou v. Sun Moumou Health Rights Dispute Case, People's Court of Kangping County, Liaoning Province). <https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/408162.html>; Supreme People's Court of China (second amendment in 2022, effective on April 10, 2022). Interpretation on the application of the "Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China" (Article 90). <https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun/xiangqing/353651.html>; Article 1198 of the Civil Code is reproduced in full by the Supreme People's Procuratorate; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (amended in 2023, effective on January 1, 2024). Civil Procedure Law (Articles 152, 164). Full text is reproduced by the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission <https://fgw.sh.gov.cn/ys-syjf-zc-2.4.1-h5/20240408/073febdb2b04464390546232d4089f51.html>; State Council of China (2006). Measures for the payment of litigation costs (State Council of China Order No. 481, Article 6, Article 29). <https://www.gov.cn/ziliao/flfg/2006-12/29/content_483682.htm>; Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (2025). Public Security Management Punishment Law (revised in 2025, effective from January 1, 2026, Article 26, Item 1, Article 50, Item 5). <https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml>

Notes: This grade is assigned because the guidelines describe proper procedures but provide no quantitative data on how many lives they actually save. Article 184 shields rescuers only when their actions are voluntary and occur in an emergency; it does not cover situations such as “taking it upon oneself to load a stranger into a private car for transport” — waiting for 120 remains the safer choice. After dialing 120, stay on the line and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. This advice is primarily intended for one’s own elderly relatives and acquaintances. For strangers on the street, walking away is both legal and advisable; the law does not obligate you to intervene. That said, once you stop, you must weigh all associated costs: time spent, leaving your contact details, contact potential from family members, possible legal action, workplace repercussions, and even online backlash. For further details, see [docs/Should you stop when you encounter a stranger in an accident.md](../../docs/research/Should you stop when you encounter a stranger in an accident.md). option, as Article 1198 of the Civil Code imposes a duty of care on venue operators. For fall prevention, refer to Section 1, Item 13 (balance and leg-strength training); delayed symptoms following head trauma are covered in Section 10; financial recourse after injury sustained while rescuing others is addressed in Section 39; and evidence collection and reporting in cases of online harassment are outlined in Section 8, Item 16.