1. SAFETY

2. General Safety FFFFreedom from harm or danger

3. How Accidents Happen IIIIndividual behavior frequently cause of accident: PPPPoor judgment FFFFailure to recognize potential danger PPPPhysical limitation NNNNot tall or strong enough NNNNot enough training or experience

4. OSHA  Occupational Safety and Health Administration  Outlines required safety and health standards  ALL employers must conform  Any worker may contact about unsafe working conditions

5. General Safety Rules

6. General Safety Rules  Walk  Never run  Walk on right hand side of hallway  Use handrails on stairway

7. General Safety Rules  Watch out for swinging doors  No horseplay  Wipe up spills/pick up litter  Report any unsafe conditions

8. Safety Attitude  A way of thinking or feeling about a situation

9. Sharps Safety

10. Needle Sticks  Direct patient care at risk of needle sticks or other sharp objects  Risk of contracting Hepatitis B or HIV from contaminated body fluid and blood

11. Needle/Sharps Safety  All sharps disposed of in sharps container  A red puncture- resistant container  Never recap or manually remove dirty needs

12. Needle/Sharps Safety  Never carry sharps from one location to another  Never pass sharps across a patient  Report any incidences to supervisor

13. Chemical Safety

14. Chemical injuries  Acid, base or other chemical substance  Causes injury:  Direct contact on skin  Inhalation of fumes

15. Chemical injuries  Most common type of chemical injury is a burn  Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) provided on every chemical

16. Chemical Guidelines

17.  Always wear gloves when using solutions  Always read label on container at least 3 times  Do not use if label is illegible or missing  Always use in a well-ventilated area  Immediately clean up spills

18. Equipment Safety

19. Equipment Guidelines  Do not use any equipment until you have been properly trained  Inspect cord for fraying or damage  Make sure plug has three prongs

20. Equipment Guidelines  Do not use damaged or malfunctioning equipment  Always make sure hands, the patient, and floor are dry  Responsibility of every employee to alert supervisor and others to possible hazards

21. Patient Safety

22.  The health care professional is responsible for patient safety  Patients are partly helpless  Equipment presents safety problems  Hazards in environment

23. Ambulation Devices

24.  Used to assist patient in walking by giving additional support  Examples:  Canes  Crutches  Walkers

25. Safety Precautions for Ambulation Devices  Structural soundness:  No dents, even, button in hole  Areas touching ground must be covered by rubber tips

26. Transportation Devices

27. Transportation devices  Devices to transport patients to other areas for treatment/procedures  Gurney  wheelchairs

28. Safety Precautions for Transportation Devices  Always lock brakes when moving patient on or off  Back a wheelchair over raised doorways or into elevators  Back patient on gurney head first into elevator  Secure straps or put side rails up

29. Postural Supports (Restraints)  Used to restrict patient’s movements only for their own safety  Vest  Wrist  Ankle

30. Postural Supports Precautions  Support precautions  A doctor’s order required by law  Attach supports to framework of bed, gurney  Check frequently  Loosen every two hours

31. Side Rails

32.  Uses:  to keep patient from falling  aid in turning or moving patients  to aid patient to turn themselves

33. Side Rails Precautions  Always use at night  Always use with:  small children,  heavily medicated or confused patient,  elderly patients

34. Side Rails Precautions  Always lock securely  Avoid crimping tubing or patient extremities  If taken down during a procedure, must be up when leaving

35. Bathroom

36. Bathroom  May be most hazardous area in patient’s room  Use handrails/grab bars to avoid falls  Use rubber mats to prevent slipping

37. Bathroom  Avoid spilling water or soap on floor  be sure patient knows where emergency button is located and how to use it