Download Chapter 7: Safety and Body Mechanics

Chapter 7: Safety and
Body Mechanics
Roosevelt Health Science
Clinical Rotations
Successful Nursing Assistant Care, 2nd Ed.
Chapter 7 Objectives
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Define important words
List common accidents in facilities and
ways to prevent them
Explain the Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS)
Describe safety guidelines for sharps and
biohazard containers
Explain the principles of body mechanics
and apply them to daily activities
Define two types of restraints and discuss
problems associated with restraints
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Define the terms “restraint free” and “restraint
alternatives” and list examples of restraint
alternatives
Describe beginning and ending steps in care
procedures
Identify what must be done if a restraint is ordered
List safety guidelines for oxygen use
Identify safety and explain the “RACE” and “PASS”
acronyms
List general safety steps to protect yourself and
residents in a facility
Common Accidents in Facilities
• There are many accidents that can occur in a long-term care facility.
• Always be on your guard to try to keep patients, other staff, visitors, and
yourself safe.
• Some common resident accidents include:
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Falls
Failing to identify residents before performing procedures or serving food
Burns and scalds
Poisoning
Choking
Cuts
How can you prevent someone from falling?
Resident Identification
• Residents must always be identified before providing care or serving food.
Not doing so can result in serious problems, illnesses, and even death.
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THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT CHECKING IDENTIFICATION
• Most people are used to seeing armbands as a form of ID on patients in
hospitals; however, residents of nursing homes may not wear name
bracelets or armbands.
• For disoriented or confused residents, some facilities use special bands that
have alarms on them. This alarm will sound when a resident tries to leave
the facility.
• Regardless of the method the facility uses, identify each resident before
giving care and serving food every time.
Burns and Scalds
• Scalds are burns caused by very hot liquids, such as coffee or tea.
• It does not take long for a serious burn to occur. When the temperature of
liquid reaches 140 degrees F, it can take five seconds or less to cause a burn.
• Burns are extremely painful and can require surgery.
• Elderly people and people who have a loss of sensation due to paralysis are
at the greatest risk for burns.
How can you prevent burns and scalds?
How can you prevent poisoning?
Choking Prevention
• Resident must be watched closely during meals for signs of choking.
• Residents who are weak or who have dysphagia are at high risk for choking.
• Residents who have special diets consisting of thickened liquids, which are
easier to swallow.
• Inhaling food or drink into the lungs is called aspiration, which can cause
pneumonia or death.
How can you prevent choking?
How can you prevent cuts, scrapes, and other
injuries?
MSDS
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MSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
OSHA requires that all dangerous chemicals have a MSDS located where all staff
can access them.
The MSDS includes info such as:
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Chemical ingredients
Dangers of the product
Protective items to wear when using the chemical
The correct method of using and cleaning up a chemical.
Sharps and Biohazard Containers
• Always wear gloves before touching a sharps container
• When dropping an object into the biohazard container, keep your hands
above the opening at the top.
• When touching a sharps container, touch the bottom of the container only.
• Replace the sharps container when it is ¾ full.
• Wash your hands after putting anything into the sharps container.
• Use the biohazard container for anything contaminated with infectious
waste (blood, body fluids, or human tissue), except for anything sharp.
• Always wear gloves when disposing of infectious waste.
• Wash your hands after putting anything into the biohazard container
Body Mechanics
Restraints
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A restrain is a physical or chemical way to restrict voluntary movement or behavior.
Common physical restraints include a vest restraint, belt restraint, wrist/ankle
restraints, and mitt restraint.
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Side rails and special chairs, such as geriatric chairs are also considered physical restraints.
Chemical restraints are medications used to control a person’s behavior.
There are many complications of restraint use. Some of the negative effects
include:
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Bruises and cuts
Pressure sores
Pneumonia
Reduced blood circulation
Risk of suffocation
What are some guidelines for patient safety
with oxygen?
What are some guidelines for dealing with IVs?
RACE
• Remove residents from danger
• Activate alarm
• Contain the fire by closing all doors and windows, if possible
• Extinguish the fire, or fire department will extinguish. Evacuate if instructed
to do so.
PASS
• PASS describes how to use a fire extinguisher.
• Pull the pin
• Aim at the base of the fire when spraying
• Squeeze the handle
• Sweep back and forth at the base of the fire.