Inside Listening and Speaking 4

Unit 1 Assessment

AUDIO SCRIPT

[F1: Female Presenter]

F1: Good evening, everyone. Tonight, I’m going to go over common risks and safety
concerns for home health care workers and give tips for staying safe and avoiding
things that trigger illness. Home health care practitioners are increasingly in
demand. And our work is tough. If I can give you an analogy . . . we’re like a group of
seasonal workers, planting seeds of medicine and therapy, of cleanliness, and of
cheer. We work for a period of time in the lives and spaces of others, and when our
job is finished, we move on to the next job.

Obviously, we need safety measures. It’s important to always wear gloves so that
diseases cannot be transmitted by contact with blood or other bodily fluids. A
patient may come down with the flu, or catch a common cold. It might be impossible
to avoid being exposed, but you can minimize the chances. Don’t hesitate to wear a
protective mask in these cases. You may even wish to wear a disposable gown. The
last thing you want to do when you’re done with a shift is to give any germs or
illnesses a ride home with you at the end of the day.

Of course you should wash your hands if you are responsible for preparing food or
after you use the bathroom. That’s for the patient. But think about yourself. Wash
your hands before you take your own breaks for meals and before using the
bathroom. Wash them if you come into contact with tissues or medical waste. Use
gloves, or wash your hands whenever you position, feed, or bathe a patient.

In addition to avoiding infection, you’ll want to avoid accidents. You’ll want to have
gloves and probably a cap or hat and maybe other protective gear. You’ll want to be
aware of anything that could harm you, such as certain insects or chemical residues.
It’s similar when going into a patient’s home. You’ll want to protect yourself, and
you’ll want to be aware of any possible dangers. Don’t take off your shoes in a
patient’s home. You can step in or on something dangerous. Move carefully to avoid
bumping shoulders or elbows or knees on hard surfaces. Be sure you have been
trained in how to lift and turn people. Speak to your supervisor, who can ensure that
you have proper equipment.

At first, monitoring every move you make, you may feel like a robot – stiff and
unnatural. But after a while, these habits become second nature.

Be careful when you handle sharp things. Especially be sure to dispose of needles
properly. If you accidentally stab yourself with a used needle, wash the area
thoroughly, and contact your supervisor. You may be advised to go to the doctor or
hospital.

© Oxford University Press. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use. 1

Inside Listening and Speaking 4
Unit 1 Assessment

You need to give considerable attention to your own general self-care. You need to
get enough sleep – at least six to eight hours, to eat regular, healthy meals, to
exercise, and to relax. Drink a lot of water. It’s important to find ways to deal with
stress.

It’s important to stay current with certain vaccinations, so make sure yours are up
to date.

I also want to remind you that often we have to deal with patients’ moods. If a
patient gets new meds, especially psychiatric meds, watch out for reactions. Some
medications can induce anger or depression or cause other side effects. But
sometimes a patient will have emotional outbursts simply because of the situation.
For some, just being dependent on you is a great cause of stress. They may feel like
children – or like you are treating them like children. Don’t take it personally.

You will often be dealing with more people than the patient. There can be additional
issues dealing with family members. First, don’t let them distract you from your
duties. Second, take precautions with them also. Wash your hands after coming into
contact with one person and before coming into contact with another. Anyone may
be carrying germs or illnesses. And be aware that sometimes stress levels are very
high. Family members may come in with a smile. But underneath that smile there
may be a wild animal ready to strike.

Protect yourself legally. Always work through a legitimate employer. There is no

legislation that would protect you, working on your own, from being sued if
something happened to a patient while you were with them.

Finally, if you travel alone to and from patients’ houses, be careful. Always carry a
cell phone with you. A GPS unit is very helpful. Have an emergency kit and a blanket
in the car. At night, it is safer to stay on main, well-traveled roads than to take side
roads.

We’ll take a break and convene again in about fifteen minutes. I’ll take questions
after the break.

© Oxford University Press. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use. 2