How to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcers, deep wounds, pressure sores, bedsores – they go by many names, but the risks and discomfort remains the same.
Untreated pressure injuries can lead to many complications like sepsis, cellulitis, bone and joint infection, and in some cases, even cancer, so it is of great importance that these are prevented. This is why we are sharing the following tips on pressure care management…Read on to find out more!
Reasons for pressure injuries:
- Sustained pressure. When skin and the underlying tissues experience prolonged contact against a surface such as a wheelchair or a bed, skin cells may be damaged and eventually die.
- Friction. Friction occurs when skin is dragged across a surface. For instance, when a patient changes position or is moved by a caregiver. Friction is exacerbated when skin is moist.
- Shear. Shear occurs when two surfaces move in the opposite direction;
Dynamic air mattresses or pressure mattresses are widely used to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers in care environments, but there are other steps that can be taken to further mitigate these risks, as below.
5 Ways to Reduce the Risk of Pressure Ulcers
The following tips may help reduce the risk of pressure ulcers:
- Change positions frequently (e.g. every couple of hours), to put less pressure on the skin.
- Keep skin clean and dry. After washing, always pat skin dry with a towel. Do not rub.
- Use pillows between parts of the body that press against each other, for example, under the tailbone, shoulders, heels, and elbows, or, for patients lying on their side, between the knees and the ankles.
- Exercise. Even for patients who can’t get out of bed, simple exercise and range of motion activities can help reduce the risk of pressure wounds.
- Gel mattress overlays. Use a gel mattress overlay to provide an essential barrier between the patient and the bed surface.
Did you know – the compressors used to inflate a dynamic air mattress pump oscillate at 50 times a second – that’s in excess of 1.5 billion compressions per year!
This all demonstrates how pressure care mattresses are imperative in the care environment, to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers and ensure quality care is maintained.
Regular maintenance on pressure care mattress systems is also important, to ensure that these vital items remain serviceable and in turn, reduce the risk of pressure ulcers. Contact N H Maintenance today for a no obligation quotation for regular on-site servicing of your dynamic air mattress systems – 01444 250350 or sales@nhmaintenance.com
We also offer dynamic air mattress decontamination services, and in our specialist workshop we can carry out repairs to any make or model of pressure care equipment.
Contact us or visit our main website for further information on the services we can offer and “What makes NHM different”!
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