Fall Prevention
Fall Prevention
We are committed to providing a safe environment during your hospital stay. Sometimes, being in an unfamiliar environment, taking medicine you are not used to, or receiving certain medical treatment, may cause changes in the way you feel, the way you think, or the way you walk. In an effort to reduce the possibility of an accidental fall during your hospital stay, please be aware of the following:
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Side rails (2 or 4) on patient beds are necessary at all times. Be sure to use the button to call the nurse when getting out of bed. Never climb over the side rails or the end of the bed. If you object to having the bed rails up and want them lowered, you must first sign a “Release of Responsibility for Removal of Side Rails.”
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For pediatric patients, crib rails must be up at all times, except when removing a child or attending to a child’s needs.
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Your bed should be in the low position, close to the floor. The button to raise the bed should only be used by the nursing staff.
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Patients should wear slippers or shoes that have a nubby or hard sole to avoid slips or falls. This is very important. Please avoid wearing knit footies or slippers with smooth soft soles.
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Robes that tie or snap are safer than those that you have to step into, because you may lose your balance, get tangled in the robe and fall.
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Please let your nurse know if you have any special needs that we should be aware of, such as frequent trips to the bathroom, getting up during the night, or difficulty seeing clearly at night.
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Ask your nurse if you may get out of bed without assistance. If you do get out of bed and become dizzy, hold onto a sturdy piece of furniture and lower yourself to a sitting position.
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