Safety is an Agency Wide Priority
Client and employee safety is in every employee’s job description. We pride ourselves on doing for others what they can no longer do for themselves. you are the eyes, ears, arms and legs of our clients. when it comes to client safety it is up to you to ensure that the potential for accidents is recognized and addressed before it happens. The importance of your role in the position of caregiver can not be understated. Your clients are counting on you to be there when it counts.
All home care personnel will be alert to safety factors in the home environment. Client safety and comfort is the agency number one goal. Please report any findings to your supervisor that may improve safety or quality of care. The client and family should be encouraged to:
Have grab bars installed in the bathroom.
Use non-skid mats or emery strips in the tub.
Use a shower stool or transfer bath bench.
Remove throw rugs or other hazards such as loose extension cords, small mats.
Use assistive equipment such as toilet handrails, gait belt, Walker, wheelchair, shower / tub bench.
Always lock any wheeled equipment before transferring a client.
Utilize a medication sheet to ensure proper administration of prescribed medications.
apply distinct and complete labeling of medications, good illumination of the medication cabinet in order to avoid errors in self-administered medications.
Refrain from smoking or being near open flames while using oxygen. Post no smoking signs in visible location
Fall Prevention
Falls are the second leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Seventy-Five percent of these falls occur in older adults. Falls not only affect the quality of life of the client but also significantly influence the caregiver and family. The agency shall protect all clients from preventable injuries and illnesses.
caregivers should routinely Perform a home safety check when servicing a client.
Educate clients or family members on the following Fall Prevention Tips:
Have your vision checked at least once a year by an eye doctor. Poor vision can increase your risk of falling.
Get up slowly after you sit or lie down.
Wear shoes both inside and outside the house. Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers.
Improve the lighting in your home. Put in brighter light bulbs. Add lighting to dark areas.
Paint a contrasting color on the top edge of all steps so you can see the stairs better. use a light color paint on dark wood.
Think about wearing an medical alert device that will bring help in case you fall and can’t get up.
Equipment Malfunction
Employees are required to report any client medical equipment malfunction to their supervisor immediately. Supervisors will create a communication record and notify the client or family of the risks associated with the issue.
An incident Report will be completed if injury has occurred as a result of the malfunction.
If a piece of equipment is or you suspect that a piece of equipment is malfunctioning contact the supervisor immediately. Do not attempt to unplug/Unhook or correct the issue without consulting with a supervisor first. Prior to using equipment it should be checked for obvious damage or frayed electrical lines. if damage is apparent do not use the equipment. proper instruction on equipment to the client is important in reducing equipment accidents. Staff are encouraged to educate clients on proper use and are required to document their teaching in the client journal.
Fire Safety
The most important thing that can be done to protect people from a fire is to prevent it from occurring. By preventing the outbreak of fire, you not only save lives, but also avoid property damage. Everyone has a responsibility to protect those that they support from fire. Assuring adherence to common fire safety practices; regarding the use of appliances and other dangerous items, and assuring that all fire protection systems are operating properly all promote good fire safety. Practicing the Fire Plan is also an integrated component of a well-rounded fire prevention program.
It is important to have appropriate planning, training and skill to be ready and able to react effectively. The training and information you receive is designed to help prepare you so that if an incident does occur, your response should be immediate, intelligent and most importantly, effective.
These instructions need to be followed agency wide for all Fire Emergencies (e.g., fire, smoke, odor of smoke or burning, crackling noises, unusual heat conditions, and any automatic detector activation). Although specifically geared to “fire” emergencies, much of these instructions would apply in any generalized emergency situation.
Safety is a vital concern of Promise Senior Solutions. The ultimate responsibility for safety lies with you. We need your help promoting safety and the prevention of accidents by observing the following common sense rules.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
ALL AUTOMATIC ALARMS shall be treated as TRUE EMERGENCIES. Everyone should immediately implement the Fire Plan and begin an evacuation as outlined in your evacuation plan, regardless of the cause of the automatic alarm.
ANY Staff members and any other occupants in the building(s) at the time of an alarm or other emergency shall render such assistance as directed.
Beds, mattresses and other bulky equipment should NEVER be used to evacuate occupants unless absolutely necessary. (Use blanket drags, carries, etc.)
STAY LOW. Keep yourself and all occupants low if in a smoke involved area. The fire generated smoke and gases are potentially more dangerous than the actual flames.
Elevators shall not be used during a fire or emergency situation, other than by firefighters.
NO ONE other than firefighters shall enter or re-enter a fire or smoke involved structure.
Based on your training and/Or your obligation, you may need to re-enter areas that are not involved with fire or smoke to assist others. Use your training and use extreme caution at all times. If re-Entry is attempted, make someone aware of your actions, to provide accountability for arriving emergency responders.
REPORT ALL FIRES TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY, EVEN IF IT APPEARS TO BE OUT, OR IS CONSIDERED INSIGNIFICANT!
If your local fire department is responding to assist, DO NOT reset your alarm until they arrive and evaluate the situation.
Plan Of Action:
REMOVE
ALERT
CONFINE
EXTINGUISH
The following general instructions explain these fundamental steps and provide guidance in the event of an emergency. It must be understood and stressed that each emergency will present itself in a unique way and with a different set of circumstances each time. Therefore, staff must be creative and confident to implement these steps in various situations.
In addition, it is important to note, that although these “steps” are presented in an organized manner in order to provide guidance on the importance and general sequence of these events, in the case of a true emergency, it could happen that many of the functions of this Guideline will be conducted at the same time or in an order appropriate to that specific situation. In all cases sound practical judgment, experience and training will prevail.
Pending the arrival of the fire department or other back up and responding personnel, YOU ARE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE. The lives of those entrusted to your care, and possibly your very own, may well depend upon your reactions.
TO SUMMON HELP IN ANY EMERGENCY SITUATION...
IMMEDIATELY CALL .... 911
REMOVE
DO NOT PANIC - REMAIN CALM - DO NOT SHOUT OR YELL.
YOUR FIRST CONCERN IS FOR LIFE SAFETY - SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS, OTHER STAFF AND YOURSELF IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE.
EVACUATE EVERYONE TO A POINT OF SAFETY. All occupants in the building must be evacuated as quickly and as orderly as possible to a pre-Designated POINT OF SAFETY, using the following guidelines:
1. ORDER OF REMOVAL OF OCCUPANTS:
Remove anyone in immediate danger (i.e., in the room of origin).
Evacuate occupants who can walk on their own. (This is done first to facilitate evacuating the most, the fastest)
Evacuate occupants who cannot walk, require additional assistance, use walkers, etc.
Evacuate occupants who are connected to life sustaining devices or medical management devices.
2. HOW TO EVACUATE THE OCCUPANTS:
Movement of any occupant shall be done as planned in advanced. As a general rule, the method that is used during non-emergency situations is going to be the best method for movement under emergency situations.
3. WHERE TO EVACUATE:
ANYONE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER should utilize the nearest and most immediate EXIT. If you have to escape through smoke, crawl on your hands and knees where air will be cleaner. Test all doors in your escape path for heat prior to opening them. Always test doors with the back of your hand. Remember to practice your escape plan several times annually.
ACCOUNTABILITY: As soon as all occupants are gathered in a safe place (either within the building, in an area of refuge, or outside), someone (i.e. staff in charge) shall take a roll call, using a checklist roster. If anyone is missing, immediately report this to the first arriving fire personnel. If staff and/Or occupants are trapped by smoke, close doors, stay low, block openings to room and open a window to attract attention of rescuers.
ALERT
ALERT ALL NEARBY STAFF – By voice or use of code phrase. (This may be accomplished simultaneously with the Remove step)
PULL THE NEAREST ALARM BOX IF PROVIDED. This will automatically notify the occupants, and possibly the Fire Department and additional help. In addition this may initiate automatic fire protection features of the building.
CALL 911- If no fire alarm is available, immediately call 911. If there is an alarm system available, make a back-up call to 911 as soon as everyone is in a point of safety. Although redundant, this assures response and provides additional information to the responders.
Give the dispatcher the following information:
NAME, LOCATION, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT, ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS. DO NOT HANG UP UNTIL DIRECTED BY THE DISPATCHER.
CONFINE
CONFINE THE FIRE BY CLOSING ANY DOORS, FIRE DOORS AND OTHER OPENINGS INTO THE ROOM OR AREA OF ORIGIN. Closing a door can be a very simple and effective method of containing the fire, buying time for evacuation.
EXTINGUISH
EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. Attempt to extinguish the fire only after all occupants are in a point of safety (unless extinguishment of the fire is needed to evacuate, i.e., fire is between you and the door). Any attempts to extinguish the fire should be considered a “Last-Resort”. Evacuation should always be your first priority.
Fire Prevention is potentially the most powerful strategy for reducing both life and property fire hazards.
A FIRE THAT NEVER HAPPENS CAUSES NO LOSS OR DAMAGE !!!!
Accident/Incident Reporting
An accident or incident must be reported to your supervisor immediately. The employee may be required to write down all they remember regarding the accident or incident immediately following the occurrence, or as soon as the employee returns from treatment for any injury. if you are a witness to an accident or incident, you will be required to provide information in order for the supervisor to complete the appropriate report. Please be aware of the importance of immediate action in reporting all details of the accident.
Reporting Emergencies
what constitutes an emergency & what to do
An EXTREME EMERGENCY may be, but is not limited to:
1) Unresponsiveness (except in a known comatose client).
2) Severe chest pain with sweating, nausea, radiation of pain to neck or arm or cardiac arrest.
3) Signs and symptoms of hemorrhage or acute bleeding (G.I.), vomiting or diarrhea.
4) Extreme respiratory distress.
5) Fall with obvious fracture.
In the event of an EXTREME EMERGENCY:
1. Call 911 for emergency services responder to transfer to hospital immediately.
2. Call your supervisor or administrator to advise of the situation.
3. Stay with the client until emergency medical personnel arrive.
4. Document exactly what happened in the client journal.
A MODERATE EMERGENCY may be, but is not limited to:
1) Change in pulse, such as irregularity, tachycardia or bradycardia
2) Blood pressure with systolic less than 90 or diastolic greater than 110
3) Shortness of breath with shallow breath, rapid breath, or change in breath sounds
4) Decreased urinary output over twenty-four (24) hours
5) Blood sugar via glucometer greater than 250 or less than 60 (or anything abnormal for given client)
6) Vomiting or diarrhea with potential for dehydration
7) Temperature greater than 101 degree
8) Signs/symptoms of infection of wound
9) Fall with suspicion of injury
10) Medication irregularities (questionable dosages or potential interactions)
In the event of a MODERATE EMERGENCY:
1. Stay with the client until help arrives or you are satisfied that follow-up has been initiated.
2. Call the office and report to the supervisor or administrator that this is a moderate emergency
3. Call the physician, hospice nurse, or home health agency if directed to do so.
4. Document exactly what happened in the client journal all steps and actions taken.
A MINOR EMERGENCY may be, but is not limited to:
1) Fluctuation in vital signs, which are not life-threatening
2) Medication irregularities (questionable dosages or potential interactions between medications)
3) Complaints of pain, weakness, sweating, upset stomach, unexpected weight loss, UTI, GI symptoms indicating impending illness.
4) Falls without apparent injury
5) Change in wound size
In the event of a MINOR EMERGENCY:
1. Call the office and report the emergency to your supervisor
2. Document exactly what happened in the client journal all steps and actions taken.
3. It is not necessary to stay with the client until resolved (except see below).
NOTE: As with all written guidelines, certain situations do not fit the criteria listed. When unusual situations occur, DO NOT HESITATE to call the supervisor for advice. Field staff can tell the emergency services, hospice, family, or home health directly when it would cause a delay to call the office first. If you call, report the conversation and any change to the service plan to the supervisor as soon as possible. Also, remember to document the situation thoroughly as soon as possible in the client journal. Be aware that clients living alone or those without responsible family/caregivers present may need to be attended to until resolution is met.
Employee Injury
If you are injured on the job, Promise Senior Solutions’ prime concern is to provide you with the best medical care available. You must notify your supervisor or administrator immediately for instructions. If the injury is very serious or if it occurs when the closest medical provider is closed or unavailable, you need to go to the nearest emergency room. If you are not satisfied with your treatment at the clinic or hospital, report it as soon as possible to your supervisor or administrator so corrective action can be taken.
Follow-Up Treatment: All injured employees must follow the doctor’s order of treatment. Failure to do so may result in the loss of benefits.
Company Notification: If the doctor orders you to take time off from work due to an on-the-job injury, you must contact your supervisor immediately. You should advise them of your progress and expected date of return.
Modified Duty: Promise Senior Solutions wants you back to work as soon as possible. If you are not able to return to your regular duty, Promise Senior Solutions may have modified duty to offer you until you are released to regular duty by your doctor. You need to inform the treating doctor that Promise Senior Solutions offers modified duty work that can accommodate any restrictions or limitations the doctor may suggest. By working the modified duty job you are able to collect your regular pay amount – not a reduced percentage through workers’ compensation.