STAY SAFE Preventing Falls
Hospital patients oſten fall because they are weak or unsteady due to illness or medical procedures, their medications make them dizzy, or they’ve been sitting or lying down for too long. Sierra Providence East cares about our patients’ safety. Please help us keep you safe by following these guidelines during your
hospital stay: n Do not get out of bed by yourself. Your hospital bed is probably higher and narrower than your bed at home, and you can easily fall while trying to get in or out of it. Please use your nurse call button and ask for assistance.
n Keep oſten-used items—call button, tissues, water, eyeglasses, telephone, TV remote—within easy reach.
n Do not walk in bare feet. Wear non-skid socks or slippers.
n Make sure your robe or pajamas don’t drag on the floor; they can cause you to trip.
n Use the handrails in your bathroom and throughout the hospital at all times.
n Ask your nurse to show you how to properly walk with your IV pole, drainage bags or any other equipment.
n Be sure your wheelchair is locked when getting in or out of it. Never step on the footrest.
n If you see a spill on the floor, report it at once.
DVT: Lower Your Risk Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when blood clots form in the legs and block circulation. The clots can lodge in your brain, heart or lungs, causing damage or even death. When you’re hospitalized and in bed with limited physical activity, your risk of DVT increases. Ask your doctor about using compression boots or stockings and/or blood thinners to prevent DVT during your stay. And be sure to tell your doctor or nurse if you have any of the following warning signs:
A leg cramp or charley horse that gets worse Swelling and discoloration in your leg, upper arm or neck Unexplained shortness of breath
Chest discomfort that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough Light-headedness or blacking out
PATIENTS OF ALL AGES ARE AT RISK OF FALLS BECAUSE OF MEDICATIONS THAT MAY MAKE THEM DIZZY, WEAK OR UNSTEADY
© 2014 PatientPoint®
www.sphn.com 915-832-2000 : 15
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