Injury prevention

Pressure Injury Prevention

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• published: 22 Nov 2015
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Preventing pressure injuries [Audio narration - duration: 3mins 36secs] Nurse (Stephanie) – A pressure injury, often known as a bed sore or pressure ulcer, is a wound caused by pressure from staying in one position for too long. They can be very serious and can affect the quality of life for individuals… but with good healthcare and a proactive approach, most can be avoided. Paul has been wheelchair bound for 39 years and has had many pressure injuries, including on his hips and buttock. He has been in hospital for four months with two pressure injuries. This is Paul’s story about living with pressure injuries. Paul – I’ve got one sore at the bottom of my hip and another on my buttock. Paul – I have had heaps of pressure sores and for most people, they can be quite painful. There is a lot of discomfort that lasts for days and weeks and months at a time... It’s like day become night and night becomes day… Your life goes on hold. You become isolated from the community, your friends, your family… you just lay there and lay there and just kill time…. Paul – The only cure for a pressure sore is keeping off it, but we all have lives to lead - you need to eat, you need to cook...and when you have a pressure sore, I need to rely on others to help me. Nurse – A really nasty pressure injury can be a deep cavity. You may be able to see muscle or bone or tendon. The wound may bleed. The wound may weep fluid. They can be very foul smelling, like rotting flesh. Awareness is the key. Nurse – If we aren’t able to look after our own skin, then somebody needs to be checking for us. They need to be looking out for signs of: • Changes in your skin colour, like the colour of bruises: red, blue or purple • Blistering • Swelling • Dry patches • Shiny patches • Warm or cool spots Paul – I have to do skin inspections… Everyday, every time I climb into bed, I have to get a mirror and have a look at my bum, my hips, just to make sure there aren’t any red marks. Nurse – The most common area for a pressure injury to develop is on a bony prominence – the heels, elbows, hips, buttocks or tailbone. Pressure injuries can happen to anyone, at any time, at any age. The five key messages to preventing pressure injuries are to: • Check your skin. Skin inspection is so important to pick up skin changes as early as possible. • Look at the surface you are sitting on and that you sleep on at night. It might be that you need a special cushion or a special mattress that can help redistribute the pressure evenly. • Always keep moving. Change your position at least every two hours when sitting in a chair or lying in bed. • Be aware of incontinence and increased moisture. Any moisture against the skin will make the skin more fragile. • Watch your nutrition and hydration – a good healthy diet is very important in preventing pressure injuries. If you need assist or have any concerns, consult your health professional for advice immediately. Nurse and Paul - Together we can prevent pressure injuries.