Safety and Emergency Procedures
Safety is woven into every task. The nursing assistant must prevent falls, burns, choking, and the spread of infection, and must know how to respond in an emergency. Key concepts include keeping call lights within reach, beds low with wheels locked, clear pathways, and adequate lighting. Know each resident's fall risk and use alarms, non-skid footwear, and assistance as ordered. Never leave a resident unattended in a bathtub or on a toilet if they are at risk.
For emergencies, know the facility's procedures for fire, medical emergencies, and evacuation. In a fire, remember RACE: Rescue anyone in immediate danger, Alarm, Contain the fire by closing doors, and Extinguish or Evacuate. For a choking resident who can cough, encourage coughing; if they cannot breathe, call for help and follow training. For a resident who falls, do not move them if injury is suspected-call for the nurse and stay with them. Report all incidents and complete an incident report factually; the report is not part of the medical record and should not assign blame.
Traps: questions that suggest moving a fallen resident, using water on a grease fire, or delaying a report. Another trap is documenting opinions or blame on an incident report.
Worked example: You find a resident on the floor. The correct action is to stay with them, check responsiveness, call for help, and not move them until the nurse assesses for injury. Rule of thumb: prevent first, stay calm, call for help, and report every incident.