Promotion of Safety: Infection Control, Body Mechanics, Environmental Hazards, and Emergencies
Infection control
Break the chain of infection at its weakest link. Hand hygiene is the single most important action - soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or an alcohol-based rub, before and after every resident contact, after gloves, after the restroom, and before eating. Gloves never replace hand washing. Use standard precautions with every resident and treat all blood and body fluids as infectious. Donning order: gown, mask, goggles, gloves. Removing: gloves, goggles, gown, then mask last - then wash hands. Know the routes: contact (C. difficile, MRSA - gown and gloves, dedicated equipment), droplet (influenza - mask), airborne (TB, measles - N95 and negative-pressure room). Clean before you disinfect; sterilization is not an aide task.
Body mechanics
Feet shoulder-width apart, bend at the knees and hips, hold the load close, keep your back straight, never twist, and push rather than pull. Use a gait belt and a second helper for heavy or uncooperative residents. Lock bed and wheelchair wheels before every transfer.
Environmental and emergency safety
Bed low and locked, call light within reach, spills cleaned at once, clutter removed, side rails limited to what is ordered and never used as a restraint. For fire, use RACE (Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate) and PASS for the extinguisher. Never leave a resident in danger to search for help; call first when you must choose.
Traps
Incident reports are not part of the chart and state facts, not blame. Restraints require a physician's order, the least restrictive option first, and regular release and monitoring - never tie to a bed frame.
Rule of thumb
Before every task: hands clean, wheels locked, call light in reach.