Review Questions

The health care worker must understand and follow workplace safety policies and procedures that reduce hazards, prevent accidents, and establish how best to respond to hazards and accidents should they occur. The best approach to safety is to focus on prevention. The following are examples for moving safely.

* Never run, even in emergencies.
* Stay to the right in halls, and be cautious when approaching intersections to prevent collisions.
* Remove loose rugs to prevent falls.
* Open doors slowly to avoid collisions.
* Use handrails when on stairs.
* Never run up or down stairs.
* Never carry uncapped syringes or sharp objects in hallways or between rooms.

There are many other examples in the textbook that apply to dressing for safety, working safely with patients, protecting yourself and others, and reporting for safety.

Some examples include fires, infectious waste, misuse of equipment, accidents during movement, slippery floors, and carelessness, such as open cabinet doors.

The following impairments make patients more prone to injuries and accidents:

* Changes in or loss of vision
* Changes in or loss of hearing
* Altered neurological function
* Changes in blood vessels
* Slowed reflexes
* Changes in mental function
* Weakness from illness or injury
* Taking medications

An incident report is a written document completed when any unexpected situation occurs that can cause harm to a patient, an employee, or any other person. It contains factual information, and most facilities do not include the report in the patient’s chart or documentation.

RACE refers to fire evacuation sequence reminders: Remove patients, Alarm, Contain the fire, Extinguish the fire or Evacuate the area. PASS refers to how to use a fire extinguisher: Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep back and forth along the base of the fire.

Refer to the information in Table 11-2 to review the types of fire extinguishers that are widely available, the kind of fire each extinguisher can control, and the cautions to be appropriately used for each extinguisher type.

To prevent electrical hazards:

* Be familiar with equipment prior to use.
* Review and follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions.
* Do not use, but rather report, damaged equipment.
* Do not use damaged electrical cords.
* Never use electrical equipment around water.
* If someone is shocked, turn off the power; do not put yourself at risk by handling or pulling cords or plugs.

Oxygen increases the risk of fire. Special precautions include:

* Posting “Oxygen in Use” notices
* Taking care not to create electrical sparks with appliances
* Avoiding the use of flammable liquids
* Securing the oxygen tank to prevent falling
* Not placing tank in sunlight or heat
* Not smoking around oxygen
* Using cotton linens to cut down on the chance for static electricity from wool or synthetics

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires health care facilities to have emergency disaster plans for handling large numbers of patients in the event of a large or catastrophic event like an earthquake, a flood, or a tornado. Health care workers must be familiar with the plan’s requirements and their specific duties in its implementation. In addition, they should stay calm, report to the person in charge, communicate clearly with others, be cooperative, and limit their use of telephones to business purposes.

“Triage” is a French word meaning “to select.” Triage guidelines are used to assess patients’ conditions and determine where they should be sent and for what treatment.

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