Preventing Pressure Injuries
WHAT IS A PRESSURE INJURY?
SKIN DAMAGE CAUSED BY PRESSURE
It is also known as a pressure ulcer, a pressure sore or bed sore.
Skin needs blood to stay healthy. Blood brings nutrients to the skin and carries waste away.
A blood vessel is like a garden hose that brings water to the grass. When you step on a hose or it gets kinked, the water can’t get through and the grass dies.
When pressure closes off blood vessels, blood can’t get through to your skin and the cells become damaged and a pressure injury develops.
A pressure injury can begin as a red spot that doesn’t go away. That area can become a small sore and then a large wound. In serious cases, the wound goes deep into the body, damaging muscle, fat and sometimes bone. The deeper the injury, the harder it is to heal.
WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW
PRESSURE INJURIES CAN DEVELOP QUICKLY
Pressure injuries:
• slow your recovery from illness or injury
• lead to a longer hospital stay
• can be painful
• limit activities or require bed rest
• lower quality of life
• become a serious problem if infected
• may require surgery
Pressure injuries are most likely to develop on skin that covers bony areas, but they can happen anywhere skin is under pressure.
DID YOU KNOW?
There are other causes that can lead to a pressure injury such as friction from rubbing and dragging the skin against a surface, or shear from sliding down in a bed or a chair.
IT’S MORE THAN JUST PRESSURE
KNOW YOUR RISKS
You are more likely to develop a pressure injury if you have one or more of the following risks.
Poor Nutrition
Memory Changes
Fever
Wetness
Loss of Feeling
Smoking
Difficulty Moving
CHECK YOUR SKIN EVERY DAY
LOOK FOR CHANGES
A skin check means looking over your whole body. Pressure injuries often develop on buttocks, hips, heels, elbows and shoulders.
• Checking your skin every day helps you see the warning signs that a pressure injury may be starting to develop.
• Use a hand mirror or ask for help to check the areas that are hard to see.
• If you don’t have sensation (feeling) in an area, check it more often.
WATCH FOR EARLY WARNING SIGNS
YOU MAY BE THE FIRST TO KNOW – TELL SOMEBODY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
The sooner you take notice of the problem and treat the cause, the more likely the pressure injury will be less severe.
Early Warning Signs
Look for:
• Changes in skin colour such as red, purple or blue/black skin
• Rashes, dryness or swelling
• Shiny skin
• Blisters, cracks, scabs
• Open area, may have fluids weeping from it
Feel for:
• Warm and/or itchy areas
• Skin that is harder or softer than normal
• Swelling over boney areas
• Tender or painful areas
If you find a suspicious area on your skin, stay off of it (change your position). If the redness is still there after 30 minutes, try not to sit or lie on the area for 24 hours.
If you notice any of these warning signs tell your healthcare provider, right away.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP PREVENT PRESSURE INJURIES?
Skin check – Look for redness, bruises, blisters or open areas each day.
Keep moving – move or change position at least every 2 hours. Ask for help if you need it.
Ideal moisture balance – keep skin clean; any wetness against the skin can make it fragile. Moisturize dry skin.
Nutrition and hydration – eat a well-balanced diet and drink enough fluids.
Surface – use your cushion or mattress and check it daily to ensure that it is in good working order
Source:
https://vch.eduhealth.ca/en/permalink/phem459