Safety Measures

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Safety Measures

• Section I Unit 3

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Whos concern is safety?
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Safety is Everyones Concern!

• The elderly may not realize that some activities
  are harmful to them.
• The most common cause of accidents for LTC
  residents is .
• Communicate with residents about safety.
• The resident has a right to a .
• Think Safety First

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Physical Changes in the Elderly

• Decreased vision
• Impaired
• Tremors or shaking
• Dizziness when position is changed
• Mental changes such as confusion
• Weakness due to illness or injury

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Providing a Safe Environment

• VS

• Keep hallways and resident rooms clean, dry, and
  free of obstacles
• Pick up any objects on the floor
• Wipe spills and place a

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Providing a Safe Environment

• Keep beds in prescribed position and wheels
  locked
• Follow facility policy for use of
• Maintain adequate lighting
• Instruct residents to use
• Set on wheelchairs during transfers or when
  parking the chair

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Providing a Safe Environment

• Report all equipment not in proper working order
  and use it according to facility policy and
  manufacturers directions
• Properly residents and/or equipment
• Check soiled linen for sharp or misplaced
  articles
• Keep all chemicals in locked area legibly labeled
  and in their
• Keep hazardous materials, sharp objects, and
  paints away from

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Providing a Safe Environment

• Ensure proper is worn by staff and residents
• Provide call signals and remind residents to call
  for help
• Always before beginning care
• Follow recommended safety precautions for all
  procedures
• Report any changes in condition, such as loss of
  appetite
• Keep residents within easy reach
• Avoid the use of clothing that could cause
  residents to trip
• Use for showers.

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Accident vs Incident
An unexpected, undesirable event
An occurrence or event that interrupts normal
procedures or precipitates a crisis
Must know your role in recognizing and reporting
accidents and incidents
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Broken Equipment

• Broken or unsafe equipment should be
• Report all equipment broken to supervisor (Nurse)
• Tag equipment according to policy
• Hazardous Communication Employee Right to Know
  makes employees aware of the proper uses and
  hazards of in the workplace

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Call Signals

• Ensure all residents have access to a at all
  times and know how to use it
• The call signal may be the residents only means
  of getting help in an emergency
• Know and follow facility policy for using call
  signals
• All staff are responsible for answering call
  signals, even if its not
• Know the various signals for resident rooms,
  bathrooms, etc.
• Know how to turn call signals
• Know the timelines for answering call signals
• Proper responses when answering call signals

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Identifying Residents

• Name bands (not common)
• Pictures
• Sensor bracelets for wandering residents

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Oxygen Safety

• Two types of oxygen delivery- What are they?
• Know the ordered by the doctor, monitor liter
  flow when in the room and notify nurse of
  incorrect liter flow
• CNAs CANNOT ADJUST OR APPLY O2!

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Safety Precautions with Oxygen

• Post oxygen signs on door, over bed and follow
  facility policy
• Check with nurse before using electrical
  equipment such as razors, fans, radios,
  televisions
• Never use flammable liquids such as
• Be sure that the oxygen cylinder is secure on
  base and /or chained to a carrier or wall
• Immediately report smoking/smoking material when
  oxygen is in use
• Use only blankets not wool or synthetic
• If tank is empty

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Role of the Nurse Aide in Fire Prevention and
Safety

• Fire Prevention
• Supervise smoking in designated areas/monitor for
  smoking materials in rooms
• Allow near oxygen
• Report frayed wiring or faulty electrical
  equipment
• Report concerns of overloaded

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Role of the Nurse Aide in Fire Prevention and
Safety

• Fire Emergency Rules
• Stay calm and do not panic, run, or scream
• Follow the steps of RACE
• R all residents from the immediate vicinity
  of the fire
• A the alarm system
• C the fire and smoke by closing all doors
  and windows
• E the fire, if it is small enough to contain

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Role of the Nurse Aide in Fire Prevention and
Safety

• Remove combustible supplies and equipment from
  hallways
• Remember that !
• In a smoke-filled area, stay close to the
  because smoke rises
• Know facility policy regarding fire emergency
  rules

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Role of the Nurse Aide in Natural Disasters

• Tornado
• Other natural disasters

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Laws

• Act of 1991-requires that the FDA be notified
  of any death or serious injury caused by medical
  devices
• prohibits carrying a concealed weapon in a
  hospital, nursing home or other health care
  facility.

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Laws

• is mandated by the government to protect the
  employee
• OSHA inspects LTC facilities for compliance with
  PPE, Material Safety Data Sheets, and TB
  testing/exposure
• OSHA also requires each facility to have an
  within a reasonable distance of where hazardous
  chemicals are used and a total body wash station
  facility shower rooms satisfy both requirements
• Video recorders may be in use (AEM)