Module 8: Care while driving

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Module 8 Care while driving
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Ergonomics

• The goal is to fit the car so you can drive in a
  way that maximizes the natural ability of your
  body to move and respond to physical stresses.
  This minimizes exposures to risk factors, such as
  sustained poor posture, that may result in injury
• Here are easy things to do before your next
  drive

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1. First check and set up

• Use a trolley to transport equipment to and from
  the car
• Do a complete check of the car for any obvious
  damage inspect the tyres, and complete the log
  book. Staff are responsible for ensuring that
  vehicles are safe to drive. This includes
  roadworthy status, tyre pressure checks, and
  regular fuel, water and oil checks. All faults
  and accidents must be reported to the
  administration manager
• Ensure items such as scales, trolley, laptop
  that could cause an injury during an accident
  are secured in the boot of the car

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2. Remove items from your pockets

• Items such as a wallet or keys cause compression
  that can reduce circulation or press on nerves
  and other soft tissues
• Sunglasses (needed to protect your eyes from
  prolonged glare), tissue and pens should be
  placed in easy reach. If you do have to reach
  out for an item, take the time to pull over in a
  safe place instead of risking an accident
• It is illegal to use a held phone while driving.
  To use an unmounted phone you need to pull over.
  If the phone rings let it go to voice-mail, pull
  over when safe to do so, and retrieve the message

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3. Buckle up!

• Staff must drive within the law. They are
  personally responsible for any traffic or parking
  infringements
• Buckle up ensuring that the belt fits properly.
  If the seat belt strap is uncomfortable, a short
  piece of soft pipe insulation or foam can be
  placed on the part of the strap that is
  uncomfortable. Shoulder strap cushions can also
  be purchased

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4. Adjust the mirrors

• Before driving, adjust the mirrors so that you do
  not have to crane your neck to see
• The unused passenger seat and headrests can be
  folded back or down to allow a greater field of
  view

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5. Adjust the seat

• The lower part of your back should feel
  comfortable and supported. If it is not
  supported by the seat you can roll a small towel
  and place it in the curve of your lower back. A
  lumbar roll is a cylindrical shaped pillow that
  can be purchased for this purpose
• The top of the headrest should be the equal
  height to the back of the head

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6. Back tilt

• The least amount of pressure on the spine occurs
  when your seat back is between 100-110 degrees so
  that you are slightly reclined. The seat back
  should fully support your back
• Take frequent breaks from the seated position by
  taking breaks, shifting weight side to side, and
  using small upper body motions (like rolling the
  shoulders back) to relax the back
• Simple exercises should be performed during breaks

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7. Fitness

• It is easy to put on weight in a driving job as
  you are using less energy
• Added to this, there is a tendency to buy fatty
  take-away food that can be eaten in the car.
  This extra weight increases the stress on your
  body. Consider healthy food choices
• Frequent exercise, especially activities that
  strengthen the core muscles, will help protect
  from injury

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8. Seat cushion length

• Scoot your tale bone as far back in the seat back
  as possible. Try to tilt the pelvis back so you
  are sitting more on the front pubis.
• You should be able to place your hand comfortably
  between the back of your knee and the front of
  the seat. If you cannot do this, add a cushion
  to your seat to move you forward

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9. Seat pan tilt

• Adjust the seat to allow for your knees to be
  slightly lower than the hips. This opens up your
  hip-flexor muscles and increases circulation to
  the back and decreases pressure on the lower back
  

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10. Getting in and out

• Turn your body on the seat to face the door when
  getting in and out of the car. This prevents
  twisting the back

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11. Steering wheel

• Adjust the steering wheel before starting the
  car. It is advisable to keep two hands on the
  wheel except when shifting gears
• Change your hand position frequently to improve
  circulation and reduce fatigue. Your grip should
  be light. You should be able to drive with your
  shoulders relaxed and your arms close to the
  sides of your body

If you have to reach too far forward, the
steering wheel may be too far away. You can
adjusting the seat, tilting the steering wheel
upwards and using a lower grasp on the wheel
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Test your knowledge

• Sam has been driving for an hour, she still has a
  long drive to his next visit. Based on this,
  reply to the following statements as either true
  or false
• Staff should take breaks only after all visits
  are completed

TRUE
FALSE
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CORRECT!!!!!

• Thats right, Sam is able to take a break to
  perform simple exercises so as to prevent
  sustained posture which could lead to an injury

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NOT QUITE!!!

• Remember, Sam is able to take a break to perform
  simple exercises so as to prevent sustained
  posture review this question before proceeding

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Test your knowledge

• Sam stops her long drive for a meal break. Based
  on this, reply to the following statement as
  either true or false
• She should avoid the meat pie, iced doughnut, and
  chocolate milk as her lunch

TRUE
FALSE
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CORRECT!!!!!

• Thats right, a meat pie, iced doughnut, and
  chocolate milk is not a good meal choice. It is
  easy to put on weight in a driving job as you are
  using less energy, and it is too easy to buy take
  away food that can be eaten in the car. This
  extra weight increases the stress on your body.
  Consider healthy food choices

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NOT QUITE!!!

• No, a meat pie, iced doughnut, and chocolate milk
  is not a good meal choice. It is easy to put on
  weight in a driving job as you are using less
  energy, and it is too easy to buy take away food
  that can be eaten in the car. This extra weight
  increases the stress on your body. Consider
  healthy food choices

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Test your knowledge

• Sam has been driving all day and is getting
  tired. She has moved her bottom forward into a
  slumped position so she can relax more. Based
  on this, reply to the following statement as
  either true or false
• This is a good driving position

TRUE
FALSE
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CORRECT!!!!!

• When seated in your car, scoot the tail bone as
  far back as possible. Try to tilt the pelvis so
  you are sitting more on the front pubis

Remember, you need to tell your Clinical Nurse
Facilitator your completion codeword!
COLLECT YOUR CODEWORD
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NOT QUITE!!!

• When seated in your car, scoot the tail bone as
  far back as possible. Try to tilt the pelvis so
  you are sitting more on the front pubis

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Code words
3 East 4 Main 4 North 5 6CCC PHYS

7 West 8CNC DSU OPTS ACC RCH _at_ Home
Jet
ANAES THTR NNU PO PICU VPRS

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