Lesson Overview. Teaching Plan. Learning Goals SAFETY GUIDELINES: PREVENTING STAFF AND RESIDENT INJURIES: TEACHING PLAN. Teaching Plan, continued:

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1 SAFETY GUIDELINES: PREVENTING STAFF AND RESIDENT INJURIES: TEACHING PLAN Lesson Overview Time: One Hour This lesson covers basic safety practices that facility staff should use in their work to avert accidents. Learning Goals At the end of this session, the learner will: 1. Be able to recognize and correct safety hazards. 2. Understand the special safety problems of the elderly. 3. Know guidelines for preventing the most common accidents and injuries. 4. Be able to report and document appropriately. Teaching Plan Give each learner a copy of the corresponding learning guide. I. Ask the learners to look at the list of accidents on the learning guide, and list some safety hazards that might cause these accidents. Recommended responses: 1. Falls caused by clutter, loose rugs, wet or slippery floors, poor lighting, improper or poorly fitting shoes, not using grab bars or bath mats, incorrect use of walkers or canes, poor maintenance of walkers or other equipment. 2. Burns from hot water, cigarettes, cooking, hot food, heat packs, space heaters, and candles. 3. Poisoning caused by household cleaners, insecticides, vitamins, medications. 4. Choking caused by food or small objects. 5. Drowning in the bath or pool. 6. Wounds from knives or sharp edges. 7. Suffocation from pillows or plastic bags. 8. Electrocution from faulty outlets, plugs, wiring, electrical equipment, and appliances. 9. Back injuries from lifting objects or residents. 10. Assault from intruders, agitated residents, or hostile family members. Teaching Plan, continued: II. Deliver a mini-lecture on the reasons that older people are especially vulnerable to accidents. Discuss these concepts as you help the learners fill in the blanks in the learning guide: 1. Normal changes of aging 2. Physical disabilities 3. Mental impairment 4. Psychological conditions 5. Low blood pressure when rising to stand 6. Medications 7. Poor housekeeping or maintenance III. Explain that the two most common accident problems in care institutions are (1) resident falls and (2) employee back injuries from lifting. Review the fall prevention guidelines in the Learner Guide. Discuss ways the staff can prevent falls. State that falling is not normal and may indicate underlying medical problems that need investigating. Place an object on the floor and demonstrate proper body mechanics as you pick up the object using your legs, a straight back, and squared shoulders. If space allows, ask your learners to repeat your demonstration by lifting an object off the floor. Watch the learners and correct or praise their technique. Emphasize that these techniques should be used at all times. Finish reviewing the techniques of proper body mechanics, the activities to avoid, and the activities to perform. IV. Ask your learners to list the appropriate responses to a safety hazard, injury, or fall. Discuss your facility s policies for responding to, reporting, and documenting hazards and incidents. V. Have the learners complete the test and grade their work. Be sure the learners sign their certificates and your sign-in sheet. Test answers: 1.a; 2.c; 3.F; 4.T; 5.b; 6.d; 7.b; 8.T; 9.F; 10.d. Seven correct answers are required.

2 SAFETY GUIDELINES: PREVENTING STAFF AND RESIDENT INJURIES: LEARNING GUIDE Accidents Will Happen List some of the hazards that might cause the following accidents and injuries: 1. Falls: 2. Burns: 3. Poisoning: 4. Choking: 5. Drowning: 6. Wounds: 7. Suffocation: 8. Electrocution: 9. Back injuries: 10. Assault: 11. Other: Why Do Older People Have More Accidental Injuries? 1. Poor eyesight Poor hearing Impaired coordination and balance Decreased flexibility, unstable joints Decreased strength and muscle tone Diminished reflexes Decreased sensation 2. _ Paralysis Arthritis High or low blood sugar Heart or lung weakness Seizures Parkinson s disease 3. _ Disorientation Forgetfulness Dementia 4. _ Fear Anxiety Depression Unwillingness to accept help 5. _ Called orthostatic hypotension Causes dizziness Dehydration can cause it Heart, lung, or stomach problems can cause Poor appetite can cause it 6. _ Drugs may cause confusion May cause sedation or fatigue May affect balance or cause dizziness 7. _ Can t afford to fix or get new equipment Too weak to perform chores Fearsome Fact: Falls are the cause of death in almost 10,000 elderly people every year.

3 Prevent Falling 1. Eliminate or reduce any safety hazards you find in the resident s room or in the facility. 2. Encourage the use of safety measures such as nonskid rugs, grab bars, and proper lighting. 3. Use devices that prevent falls, such as a bedside commode for someone who gets up to the bathroom a lot, a nightlight for nighttime safety, or a transfer belt for someone who needs transfer assistance. 4. Residents should learn how to change body positions slowly and gradually, using support and giving the body time to adjust. 5. Residents with unsteady gaits or difficulty transferring might need a physical therapy evaluation and/or assistive devices. 6. Daily exercising and stretching will improve balance and strength. 7. Adequate nutrition and hydration are important for preventing weakness and dizziness. 8. Residents should avoid alcohol and sedatives. 9. Residents should never take an over-the-counter medicine without learning how it will interact with other medications. Many medications cause drowsiness or affect balance. 10. Changes in a resident s functional abilities, eating habits, social activities, mental status, and communication abilities must be reported to a nurse or doctor. 11. Encourage residents to ask for help when they need it. 12. Encourage residents to perform as many of their own activities of daily living as possible. This will improve their confidence in their own abilities, and will help them stay active and involved. 13. All caregivers should learn how to properly assist residents with ambulation and transfers. 14. All falls should be reported and evaluated by a healthcare professional. Fearsome Fact: Back injuries are the leading cause of work injuries in care facilities. Prevent Back Injuries Remember and use the basic rules of good body mechanics at all times. 1. Proper Body Position a. Always use your leg muscles instead of your back. Bend your knees when lifting, and keep your back straight at all times. b. Keep your hips and shoulders squared to the object you are trying to move. To turn, move your feet around instead of twisting at the waist. c. Keep the weight of an object you are lifting close to your body and near the hips, where the leg muscles can bear the weight. 2. Activities to Avoid a. Always look for an alternative to lifting. If possible, push, pull, or roll instead of lifting. b. Don t lean, reach, twist, jerk, or make sudden moves. c. If you must strain to lift something, the object is too heavy and you should not lift it. d. Don t try to lift anything if you are feeling weak, dizzy, unsteady, or off balance. 3. Activities to Do a. Exercise regularly to build muscle tone and strength. b. Stretch your muscles to improve flexibility. c. Exercise before working, to warm up your muscles. Responding to a safety hazard, a fall, or an injury: 1. Get medical attention for any injury. 2. Alert your supervisor and/or facility nurse to the accident or hazard. 3. Document the problem or observation in your notes. 4. Fill out an incident report if required.

4 SAFETY GUIDELINES: PREVENTING STAFF AND RESIDENT INJURIES: TEST Name: Date: Score: (number correct) Circle the right answer. 1. The two most common causes of accidental injuries in residential care settings are: a. Resident falls and employee lifting b. Cigarette burns and falls c. Poisoning and heavy lifting d. Resident falls and cooking burns 2. Low blood pressure that occurs when a resident is rising to stand can cause: a. Difficulty breathing b. Heart palpitations c. Dizziness d. Poor appetite 3. If a resident falls without injury, don t report it. Falling is a normal part of aging. True or False 4. Residents should learn to change position slowly, giving the body time to adjust. True or False 5. To prevent back injuries, you should: a. Bend your back gently, curving the spine into a C shape. b. Keep your back straight. c. Keep the weight of an object at chest level. d. Keep the knees locked. 6. Some common safety hazards include: a. Strong lighting, dirty air ducts, and wall-to-wall carpeting. b. Hardwood floors, microwave ovens, and electric fans. c. Bedside commodes, wheelchairs, and grab bars. d. Wet or slippery floors, loose rugs, poor lighting, hot water. 7. Physical activities everyone should avoid include: a. Running, jogging, speed walking, skating. b. Twisting, leaning, reaching, jerking, straining. c. Swimming, aerobics, bicycling. 8. Exercise is good for everyone, including older people, and can prevent accidental injuries. True or False 9. Direct care staff exercise enough at work and don t need to exercise at other times. True or False 10. Safety measures that can prevent falls include: a. Using grab bars, bath mats, transfer belts, and nightlights b. Keeping pathways clear c. Eating well and drinking plenty of fluids d. All of the above

5 Certificate of Achievement Awarded to: For Completing the One-Hour Course Entitled "Safety Guidelines: Preventing Staff and Resident Injuries" Date of Course: Presented by: _ (signature of presenter, or write self-study ) Facility: