2.2 Safety and Emergency Flashcards
Developmental Safety
Pregnancy - Do not drink/smoke or use drugs
Infants - Prone to falls and accidental ingestion.
(Requires supervision
Child - Likely for injury during play
Teens - Begin of drugs, alcohol, sex and driving
Stressed Adult - Continue high risk behavior
Elderly - Lose cognitive abilities, balance, confusion, falls and inability for self care.
Occupational Safety
Toxins, infectious agents, noise pollution, air pollution.
Lifting heavy loads risk for musculoskeletal injury
Workplace Violence.
Social Behavior
Drugs, alcohol, risky sexual behavior.
Not wearing helmet/seatbelt, car seat for children.
Environment/Mobility/Sensory Perception
Living in high crime areas, or natural disaster area.
Locks/security cameras and alarms can help.
Unsteady gait can increase risk of falling.
Alteration in sight/smell/hearing/touch/taste can decrease awareness.
Knowledge/Communication/Healthstate
Lack of knowledge of medications or medical equipment and procedures increase risk
Fatigue, stress, speaking different language makes assessment and education difficult
Acute/chronic illness weaken people. They may not be able to prevent injury as well. Stress also leads to increased accidents, depression, and social isolation.
Physical Examination
- Mobility Status
- Ability to communicate
- Level of awareness/orientation
- Sensory perception
- Potential safety hazards
- Domestic violence
Infant Safety Tips
- Use car seat. Rear facing less than 2 years old
- Infants must sleep on their back
- Childproof ingesting poison, electrocution, matches and firearms.
- Assess for abuse, physical/emotional/psychological neglect, or trafficking.
School aged Safety Tips
- Wear helmet with chinstrap
- Assess for concussion after head injury during sports activity
- Car booster seat with lap belt
- Should not sit in front seat under 13
- Childproof poison, electrocution, matches, firearms
- Assess abuse and sexual/physical/emotional/psychological neglect
- Teach children AMBER alert and about abduction
Adolescent
- Motor Vehicle Safety and Distracted Drivers
- Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco/Vaping abuse
- Discuss risky sexual behavior/avoid catching STI
- Clean environment for tattoo and piercings.
- Safe gun and supervised gun use
- Internet Safety (Meeting strangers, information online may not be truthful.
- Signs of abuse or trafficking
Adult
- Reminder of effects of stress on lifestyle/health
- Assess for partner violence, safety of living with abuser, children at home, pregnancy safety, leaving relationships.
Older Adult
- Change in vision, reaction time, impaired thinking related to falls and MVC accidents
- Environmental factors that can lead to falls
- Assess smoke detectors and increased risk of fires
- How to take medications (overdosing)
- Elder abuse
Risk of Falls
- Patient will have armband and sign will be at door warning risk of falls.
- Lower body weakness, poor vision/balance/gait, use of psychoactive medications, dizziness when standing, and home hazards raise risk of falls.
How to prevent falls
- Identify at risk patients (including armbands)
- Assess history of falls
- Combine assessment tools with nurse care plan
- Use skid-proof socks
- Keep beds locked and as low as possible
- Sensor for at risk getting out of bed
Assessing Patient after Fall
SPLATT S - Symptoms at time of fall P - Previous Fall L - Location of Fall A - Activity at time of Fall T - Time of Fall T - Trauma after Fall
Restraints/Side Rails
Restraints - Last resort. Risk of falls, confused, removes medical devices. Assess patient during restraints and remove every 2 hours.
Side Rails - 2 rails is not restraint, all 4 is restraint. Prevents patients from falling out of bed. Mobility and bathroom every 2 hours or as needed.
