Safety and Emergency Procedures
Remove the hazard, then the resident
Most safety questions resolve the same way: eliminate the risk before you move the person. Keep the bed in the lowest position with wheels locked, the call light and personal items within reach, the floor clear, non-skid footwear on, and side rails down unless a specific device is ordered. Answer call lights promptly - many falls happen when a resident tries to get up alone. Use a gait belt for ambulation and transfers, face the resident when you pivot, and never lift by the arms or under the shoulders.
Emergency sequences
Fire: RACE - Rescue anyone in immediate danger, pull the Alarm, Contain the fire by closing doors, then Extinguish or Evacuate. Extinguisher use is PASS - Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side. Know your facility's codes and evacuation routes.
Choking: ask "Are you choking?" If the resident cannot speak or cough, call for help and begin abdominal thrusts. Seizure: ease the person to the floor, protect the head, do not restrain or put anything in the mouth, time the seizure, and turn to the side afterward.
Oxygen safety: post "no smoking," remove petroleum-based products, avoid fabrics that generate sparks, and never adjust the flow rate.
Traps
- An incident report is factual and objective, assigns no blame, and is not part of the medical record.
- If a resident falls, do not move them until you have checked for injury and help arrives.
- A device that keeps someone in bed is a restraint even when it is called a positioning aid.
Rule of thumb
Before every move, scan the scene: Is the path clear? Are the brakes locked? Is the footwear safe?