Prevention of pressure ulcers refers to preventing the occurrence of pressure ulcers by reducing the pressure on patients and the surfaces they come into contact with and shortening the time for pressure to act on local tissues.
(1) Methods to reduce pressure on the skin
Maintain a correct posture and try to avoid pressure on the protruding bone.
Being diligent in changing postures and relieving compression is the main principle for preventing pressure ulcers, and it is also a prerequisite for treating pressure ulcers. Although various cushions, mattresses and braces have been continuously improved, various turning beds, The application of air bed or sand bed has achieved better results. But the most basic, simplest and most effective preventive measure is for nursing staff or family members to turn the patient over, or for the patient to change positions regularly. It needs to be changed at least every two hours.
When holding or transferring patients, avoid friction and collision between their bodies and the bed.
Choose a suitable seat. If the elderly have strong upper limbs, encourage them to use their hands to support their body for 10 seconds every 30 minutes to reduce the chance of pressure ulcers on the ischium.
Consider using various types of pressure relief aids
(2) Other ways to reduce pressure on the skin
Keep clothes and sheets clean and tidy And dry.
Avoid heavy objects such as heavy quilts or hot water bottles pressing on your limbs.
Avoid wrapping the wound too tightly.
Caregivers should avoid growing long nails or wearing jewelry to avoid damaging the elder’s skin.
(3) Reduce the pressure on the bony protrusion: use soft pillows, foam plastics, sponges and other items to control the bony protrusion.
(4) Skin care
Keep the elderly’s skin clean and hygienic; change diapers for the incontinent elderly frequently to reduce the chance of skin infection.
Carefully observe the skin health of the elderly. If signs of early pressure sores are found, they should be treated as soon as possible.
(5) Eat balanced nutrition
Eat more nutritious, high-protein foods such as meat, eggs, milk and beans to keep your skin healthy.
(6) Observe the skin: Check the skin of the whole body at least once a day, especially the areas where pressure ulcers are common. Doctors, nurses, and family members can do this for patients in the acute stage. Patients in the chronic stage can check with a hand mirror by themselves. When abnormalities in the skin are found, mitigation measures should be taken immediately to prevent the progression of the disease.
(7) Support training: In order to reduce the pressure on the buttocks, patients who have been relying on wheelchairs for a long time should practice supporting the bed surface, chair armrests, etc. with both hands to lift the buttocks. If your hands are weak, you can first tilt your upper body to one side, let the opposite hip leave the chair surface, and then tilt to the other side.
(8) Avoid trauma. When there is a lack of innervation or malnutrition, even a slight skin injury may become infected and evolve into a wound similar to a pressure ulcer. Therefore, special attention must be paid to cleaning the bed surface and seat. Foreign object on the chair. Trauma should also be prevented during training.
(9) Strengthen nutrition. Malnourished patients are prone to pressure sores due to reduced skin tolerance to pressure damage, and have difficulty healing. Therefore, attention should be paid to increasing protein and high-calorie diet to prevent patients from anemia and hypoalbuminemia.