Promotion of Safety Preventing Accidents & Injuries

Introduction In order to prevent injury to yourself and others while working in the health field, it is important that you observe good safety habits at all times in order to prevent an accident or injury

Body Mechanics12:1 1. Refers to the way in which the body moves and maintains balance while making the most efficient use of all its parts.

4 Main Reasons for Using Body Mechanics #2 Muscles work best when used correctly Correct use of muscles makes lifting, pulling, and pushing easier Correct application of body mechanics prevents unnecessary fatigue and strain, and saves energy Correct application of body mechanics prevents injury to self and others

8 Basic Rules of Good Body Mechanics Keep feet 8-10 inches apart, with one foot slightly forward, balancing weight on both feet Bend from hips and knees, and keep your back straight; do not bend at the waist Use weigh of your body push or pull rather than lift Carry heavy objects close to the body; stand close to person or object being moved

8 Basic Rules of Good Body Mechanics Avoid twisting your body as you work; turn with your feet and entire body when you change direction of movement Avoid bending for long periods of time If a patient or object is too heavy for you to lift alone, always get help. Many health facilities now require hcw to wear a back brace while lifting or moving patients

Which Picture Represents Good Body Mechanics?

ANSWER NONE OF THE ABOVE

Let’s Take Another Look!

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 12:2 Establish and enforces safety standards for the workplace.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Should include : product ID info Protection or precautions that must be used Instructions for safe use Procedure for handling spills Clean up and disposal ER first aid procedures Ingredient in Clorox SODIUM CHLORINE

2 Main Standards That Affect HCW Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals standards requires that employers inform all employees of all chemicals and hazards in the workplace. Blood borne Pathogens standards has mandates to protect hcw from diseases caused by exposure to body fluids.

Three diseases that can be contracted by exposure to body fluids  #5 Hepatitis B, caused by HBV Hepatitis C, caused by HCV AIDS, caused by HIV  #4 Bloodborne pathogen: blood components, urine, stool, semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva

Equipment & Solutions Safety #6&7 Do not operate any equipment unless you have been instructed Do not operate equipment when instructor is out of the room Report any damaged equipment immediately Do not mix solutions from bottles unlabeled Some solutions can be poisonous, so avoid contact with skin or eyes Do not use damaged or frayed electrical cords If a solution gets in your eye flush immediately If a particle gets in your eye notify instructor

Patient/Resident Safety #8 Do not perform any procedure on patients unless instructed to do so Provide privacy for patients at all times (knock on door, draw curtains, close door) #10 Always identify your patient (check wristband, repeat name twice, check name on patient’s bed against records) Explain procedure to pt & never do procedure if pt refuses

Safety Checkpoint for Pt in bed #11 Patient in comfortable position Side rails up if indicated (minimum of 2) Bed at lowest level to floor Bed wheels are locked Call signal in reach Leave area clean and neat

Personal Safety Use correct body mechanics Wear the required uniform Walk-do not run in the lab/clinical area Report any personal injury or accident, no matter how small Keep all areas neat and clean Wash your hands frequently Keep your hands away from your face, eyes, mouth, hair Wear safety glasses when instructed to do so

Role Play The Following Situations Show ways to provide privacy for the patient Identify the patient Explain a procedure to a patient A solution splashes on your arm A particle gets in your eye A bottle of solution does not have a label

Fire Safety 12:3 In case of fire, the main rule is to remain calm. If your personal safety is endangered, evacuate the area according to the stated method and sound the alarm.

Fire Safety #1 Fires need 3 things to start: oxygen, fuel, and heat #2 The major cause of fires is carelessness with smoking and matches #6Fire extinguishers are classified according to the kind of fire they extinguish; Class ABC is a multi-purpose extinguisher and can be used on all fires.

Fire Safety All personnel must be familiar with the fire emergency plan established by the facility in which they work In a health care facility, the plan usually states that all patients and personnel in immediate danger should be moved from the area. The alarm should be activated as quickly as possible. All doors and windows should be closed, if possible, to prevent drafts, which cause fires to spread more rapidly. Electrical equipment and oxygen should be turned off. ELEVATORS should never be used!

Fire Safety #7 The acronym RACE is frequently used to remember the important steps. RACE stand for R=rescue the patient A=activate the alarm C=confine the fire E=extinguish the fire

Using a Fire Extinguisher Locate the lock or pin at the top handle Hold the extinguisher firmly in an upright position Stand approximately feet from the near edge of the fire Aim the nozzle at the fire Discharge the extinguisher; use a side to side motion Do not spray into the center or top of the fire because this would cause the fire to spread in an outward direction Continue until the fire is extinguished

The Word PASS Can Help You Remember the Correct Steps! P=Pull the pin A=Aim the extinguisher at the near edge and bottom of the fire S=Squeeze the handle to discharge the extinguisher S=Sweep the extinguisher from side to side

Preventing fires is everyone’s job! Obey all “No Smoking Signs” Extinguish matches/cigarettes Dispose of all waste materials accordingly Store flammable materials appropriately When oxygen is in use, observe special precautions; POST NO SMOKING SIGNS In an emergency, Stay calm, follow policy of facility, provide safety for self and pt. HCW is responsible for being familiar with disaster policies so action can be taken

Infection Control A microorganism, or microbe, is a small living organism that is not visible to the naked eye. It must be viewed under a microscope! They are found everywhere in the environment, including on and in the human body Vocabulary Words: Protozoa viruses, disinfections, pathogen, anaerobic asepsis, nosocomial, exogenous, fungi, bacteria sterilization, antisepsis, aerobic, Endogenous, chain of infection, microorganism,

Anaerobic-organisms that live & reproduce without O2 Sterilization- to destroy all germs, spores & viruses Fungi-plantlike organisms that live on dead organic Asepsis- absence of pathogen Pathogen-germ or disease producing organism Nosocomial- infection acquired from healthcare facility Microorganism- small living plant or animal organism not visible by naked eye Aerobic- organism that needs O2 to live Exogenous-disease originates outside body Bacteria- one celled plantlike organism, multiply rapidly Disinfections-destroy or kill pathogens Chain of infection-factor must be present for disease to occur Endogenous- disease originates in the body Viruses-smallest microorganism Antisepsis- process that inhibits the growth of organism Protozoa-one celled animal organism found on dead material and contaminated water

Pathogens Germs that cause infection and disease Viruses Rickettsiae Protozoa Fungi

Non-Pathogens Many microorganisms are part of the normal flora of the body and are beneficial in maintaining certain body processes. These are called NON-PATHOGENS.

Viruses These are the smallest microorganisms, visible only using an electron microscope They cannot reproduce unless they are inside another living cell They are spread from human to human by blood and other body secretions Viruses cause many diseases including chicken pox, the common cold, flu, etc.

Chain of infection Mode of transmission Portal of entry susceptible host Reservoir Causative agent

Washing Hands Hand washing is a basic task required in any health occupation. Hand washing is also the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection Thorough hand washing helps prevent and control the spread of pathogens from one person to another Aseptic technique-method to prevent spread of infection

When Should Your Hands Be Washed? When you arrive and before leaving work Before and after every patient contact Before applying and immediately after removing gloves Anytime they become contaminated After using restroom, coughing,

Hand Washing Turn water on warm, it helps soap lather better and kill germs Soap is used as cleaning agent Wash palms, top of hand, fingernails, and between fingers. Good Friction 20sec Point finger tips down, to prevent flow of water up forearm when rinsing Use paper towel to turn off faucet to prevent recontamination of germs

Observing Universal Precautions Rules developed by the CDC Every body fluid must be considered potentially infectious material, and all patients must be considered potential sources of infection, regardless of their disease or diagnosis Simply stated, universal precautions means that you treat everyone as if he/she has a communicable disease

Personal Protective Equipment Gloves, gowns, lab coats, masks, face shields Must be provided to all hcw free of charge according to OSHA

Isolation Precautions In health care, you will deal with many different diseases/disorders. Some diseases are communicable and require isolation.

Communicable Disease Caused by a pathogenic organism that be easily transmitted to others. Are spread in many ways: direct patient contact, contact with dirty linen, equipment, contact with blood, droplets, sneezing, coughing, urine, feces, etc.

Airborne Precautions Precautions used for patients known or suspected to be infected with pathogens transmitted by airborne droplets. Patient must be placed in a private room Door must be kept closed Each person who enters must wear a mask Special precautions must be taken during coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc.

Contact Precautions May be transmitted by direct or indirect contact ex: GI, Hepatitis, Skin, Wound Private room Gloves Good Hand washing Gown during patient contact All patient care equipment should be left in room; thermometer, stethoscope, etc.

Protective or Reverse Isolation Protects patients from organisms in the environment Mainly used for immuno-suppressed patients Ex: bone marrow transplants, severely burned patients, patients receiving chemo, HIV/AIDS patient Anyone entering room to wear a clean or sterile gown, gloves, masks

Biohazard Sharps Container Hospitals in the United States generate approximately 4.5 million tons of medical waste each year. About 15% of this waste is considered infectious waste.

Sharps Disposal #1 Place used disposable syringes and needles, scalpel blades, and other sharp items in a puncture resistant sharps container located as close as practical to the area in which the items were used,

Sharps Disposal #2 Never recap used needles using both hands or any other technique that involves directing the point of th a needle toward any part of the body; rather, use a one- handed “scoop” technique or a mechanical device designed for holding the needle sheath If you get stuck report it immediately

Medical Waste Disposal Should be place in red biohazard bags. This includes any bandage materials

Labs Glow-Germ Activity Hand Washing Lab Applying & Removing Gloves Sharps Disposal Administering Injections IV Insertion

SAFETY TEST According to the Alabama Department of Education’s BIC Standards, EVERY STUDENT MUST PASS THE SAFTETY TEST WITH 100% ACCURACY!