Saunders: Safety and Infection Control

RACE

Rescue and remove clients and staff who are in immediate danger

Activate the fire alarm.

Confine the fire.

Extinguish the fire.

PASS

Pull the pin on the fire extinguisher

Aim at the base of the fire.

Squeeze the extinguisher handle.

Sweep the extinguisher from side to side to coat the area of the fire evenly.

radiation safety

1. To reduce exposure to radiation:

• limit the time spent near the source

• make the distance from the source as great as possible

• use a shielding device such as a lead apron

2. Place clients with radiation implants in a private room

3. keep all linens in the client’s room until the implant is removed

physiological changes in older adults that increase the risk of accidents: musculoskeletal

• strength and function of muscles decrease

• joints become LESS MOBILE and bones become BRITTLE

• postural changes and limits in ROM occur

physiological changes in older adults that increase the risk of accidents: nervous

• voluntary and autonomic reflexes become slower

• decreased ability to respond to multiple stimuli occurs

• decreased sensitivity to touch occurs

physiological changes in older adults that increase the risk of accidents: sensory

• decreased vision and lens accommodation and cataracts develop

• delayed transmission of hot and cold impulses.

• impaired hearing, with high-frequency tones less perceptible.

physiological changes in older adults that increase the risk of accidents: genitourinary

increased nocturia and occurrences of incontinence may occur

poison: interventions

1. remove any obvious materials from the mouth, eyes, or body area immediately

2. identify the type and amount of substance ingested and help determine the correct type and amount of antidote needed

3. call the poison control center before attempting an intervention

4. if instructed by the poison control center to take the person to the ED, call an ambulance

5. if the victim vomits or vomiting is induced, save the vomitus if requested to do so, and deliver it to the ED

6. NEVER induce vomiting after ingestion of lye, household cleaners, grease, or petroleum products

7. NEVER induce vomiting in an unconscious victim

donning order

1. gown

2. mask or respirator

3. goggles/face shield

4. gloves

doffing order

1. gloves

2. goggles/face shield

3. gown

4. mask or respirator

airborne precautions: diseases

1. measles

2. chicken pox (varicella)

3. disseminated varicella zoster

4. pulmonary or laryngeal tuberculosis

5. SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus (COVID-19)

airborne precautions: components

• single negative pressure room; keep door closed

• negative airflow pressure room with a minimum of 6-12 air exchanges per hr via high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filtration mask or according to agency protocol

• N95 mask

• COVID-19 —> both airborne AND droplet precautions, possibly contact precautions

• place surgical mask on client if they need to leave the room; the client leaves the room only when necessary

droplet precautions: diseases

1. adenovirus

2. diphtheria (pharyngeal)

3. epiglottitis

4. influenza

5. meningitis

6. mumps

7. mycoplasmal pneumonia or meningococcal pneumonia

8. Parovirus B19

9. Pertussis

10. Pneumonia

11. Rubella

12. Scarlet fever

13. Sepsis

14. Streptococcal pharyngitis

15. SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus (COVID-19)

droplet precautions: components

• private room OR cohort client

• wear a surgical mask when within 3 feet of the client

• health care workers wear an N95 or higher

• place a mask over the client if the client needs to leave the room

contact precautions: diseases

• colonization or infection with a multidrug-resistant organism

• enteric infections, such as Clostridium difficile

• respiratory infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus

• influenza

• wound infections

• skin infections such as cutaneous diphtheria, herpes simplex, impetigo, pediculosis, scabies, staphylococci, and varicella zoster

• eye infections, such as conjunctivitis

• adenovirus

• SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus (COVID-19)

contact precautions: components

• private room or cohort client

• use gloves and gown whenever entering the client’s room

• with C. Diff. —> gloves and gown in client’s room, soap and water for handwasher after exiting room, no sharing equipment between clients, room cleaned with chlorine (bleach) to kill spores and prevent the spread of infection