Week 1 Notes: accident prevention, safety procedures, & infection control

● Restraints
○ Allow for some slack on the straps to allow for some movement of limbs
○ Assess skin integrity & neurovascular & circulatory status EVERY 30 mins and
remove the safety device at least every 2 hours to permit muscle exercise and
promote circulation
○ Offer bedpan/toileting every 2 hours
○ Cannot be used PRN; must be renewed within a specific time frame
● Poisons
○ Identify poison that was ingested or harmed the patient
○ Call the Poison Control Center prior to performing interventions
○ Don’t induce vomiting for metals, lye, acids, cleaners, grease, or petroleum
products
● Standard precautions
○ Handwashing, gloves, masks, eye protection, & gowns (when appropriate)
○ Wash hands between patient contacts
○ Wear gloves when in contact with bodily fluids, blood, secretions, excretions, non
intact skin, mucous membranes, or contaminated items
○ Wear masks and eye protection or face shield for activities that may generate
splashes or sprays of bodily fluids
● Airborne Precautions
○ PPE: N95 mask
○ Some diseases: measles, chickenpox, tuberculosis, COVID!
● Droplet precautions
○ PPE: mask and eye/face protection
○ Some diseases: adenovirus, diphtheria, epiglottitis, flu, meningitis, mumps,
mycoplasma pneumonia, meningococcal pneumonia
● Contact Precautions
○ PPE: gown and gloves
○ Some diseases: ​C. diff,​ flu, skin infections such as herpes simplex, impetigo,
pediculosis, eye infections