Safety Tutorial for Physical Therapist Aids

1
Safety TutorialforPhysical Therapist Aids

• Theresa Carr
• Utopia High School

2
Training Tasks for Physical Therapist Aid

• Clean and organize work area
• Disinfect equipment after treatment
• Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment
• Transport patients to and from treatment areas

• Record treatment given and equipment used
• Perform clerical duties
• Maintain equipment and furniture to keep it in
  good working condition

3
Pre-Test

• Can assist in therapeutic massage?
• Cannot secure patients into therapy equipment?
• Allowed to disassemble equipment?
• Fills out forms on patients?
• Coordinates patients treatment?

4
Pre-Test Answers

• Can assist in therapeutic massage? TRUE
• Cannot secure patients into therapy equipment?
  FALSE
• Allowed to disassemble equipment? TRUE
• Fills out forms on patients? TRUE
• Coordinates patients treatment? FALSE

5
Appropriate Clothes

• Physical therapist aid uniform
• Hair is to be worn away from the face and secured
  if necessary
• White or black soft sole shoes

6
Safety Equipment

• Medical gloves and face protection
• Wheelchairs in proper working order
• Chairs and tables sterilized and secured
• Physical rehabilitation machines inspected

7
Tools

• Massage instruments
• Physical rehabilitation tools
• Measuring tools for flexibility
• Sanitizers
• Tools to repair equipment

8
Equipment/Machinery

• Massage equipment
• Physical rehabilitation machines
• Heat and cold therapy
• Elastic physical therapy bands
• Ultrasound machines
• Wheelchairs
• Tables

9
Electrical

• Ultrasound
• Message
• Wheelchairs
• Repair equipment
• Computer system

10
Floors, Doors, Exits

• Floors must be clean and sanitized
• There cannot be things on the floor which would
  cause a patient to fall
• Doors must be identified
• Exits are clearly marked
• Doorways and exits must be unobstructed

11
Chemical Hazards

• Cleaning fluids
• Sanitizers
• Ultrasound gel
• Massage creams

12
Ergonomic Hazards - Lifting

• Ergonomic training will be provided
• Proper lifting of patients is required to prevent
  injury
• Knowledge of safe movement of equipment

13
Infectious diseases

• Gloves must be worn during ALL patient contact
• Face masks are required if patient has an
  infectious disease
• These patients are separated from others
• Everything must be sterilized

14
Fire

• Where are the fire extinguishers?
• At every entrance/exit
• In all separate physical therapy rooms
• Secured on the wall in the main therapy room
• In the hallways and restrooms

• All employees will participate in fire drills and
  will learn how to use extinguishers

15
Robbery, Bomb Scares

• In case of an emergency that threatens the
  patients and staff
• The staff will move patients to a previously
  identified safe site
• Designated staff member calls 911
• Emergency care is delivered, if
  necessary

16
Angry/threatening Customers

• Remain calm and non-threatening
• Physical Therapist Aid will summon their
  supervisor
• Make sure other patients are safe

17
HOW and to WHOM DO YOU REPORT AN INJURY

• Secure immediate care from qualified staff member
  for injured patient
• Report injury to supervisor
• Fill out accident report

18
Post Test

• Lifting patients can cause injury?
• Fire procedures are not required?
• PT Aids must know how to disassemble equipment.
• Wearing high heel shoes is allowed.
• PT Aids should administer CPR to an accident
  victim.
• Exits must be clearly marked.

• All employees will participate in fire drills.
• Protective gloves are optional when handling
  patients.
• If a patient becomes upset, the PT Aid should
  summon their supervisor.
• In the event of a bomb scare, continue assigned
  job until the threat is over.

19
Post Test Answers

• Lifting patients can cause injury? TRUE
• Fire procedures are not required? FALSE
• PT Aids must know how to disassemble equipment.
  TRUE
• Wearing high heel shoes is allowed. FALSE
• PT Aids should administer CPR to an accident
  victim. FALSE
• Exits must be clearly marked. TRUE

• All employees will participate in fire drills.
  TRUE
• Protective gloves are optional when handling
  patients. FALSE
• If a patient becomes upset, the PT Aid should
  summon their supervisor. TRUE
• In the event of a bomb scare, continue assigned
  job until the threat is over. FALSE

20
Safety Web Resources

• American Physical Therapy Association
  http//www.apta.org
• New York Physical Therapy Association
  http//www.nypta.org
• Journal of American Physical Therapy Association
  http//www.ptjournal.org
• OHS Physical Therapy Safety Committee
  http//www.udel.edu/OHS/safetycomm/ptsc.html
• http//www.iseek.org/sv/13000.jsp?id100410