Promotion of Safety
Infection control first
Hand hygiene is the single most effective way to prevent infection - before and after every resident contact, after gloves, after body fluids. Use standard precautions with everyone: gloves for blood and body fluids, plus gown, mask, and eye protection per transmission route. Don in order (gown, mask, goggles, gloves) and remove gloves first, then goggles, gown, mask, with hand hygiene last. Follow isolation signs exactly and do not carry equipment out of an isolation room.
Body and environment
Use body mechanics: feet apart, back straight, bend the knees, keep the load close, pivot rather than twist, and use a lift or a second helper when needed. Keep beds low and locked, call lights within reach, floors dry, pathways clear. Identify residents by at least two identifiers before care or transport. Lock wheelchair wheels and swing away footrests before a transfer, and never leave a resident alone in a bath or on a toilet.
Fire, oxygen, and incidents
RACE: Rescue anyone in danger, Alarm, Confine the fire by closing doors, Extinguish or Evacuate. PASS for extinguishers. Oxygen is a fire hazard: no smoking, no petroleum-based products, no frayed cords. Report every incident, even one with no injury.
Traps
Restraints are not a convenience. They require a provider order, the least restrictive option, and frequent checks of circulation, breathing, and skin - and they are never tied to a side rail. In a fire question, the first action is moving people out of danger, not locating the extinguisher.
Rule of thumb
Ask, "What prevents harm in the next 60 seconds?" That action usually comes first.