Patient safety – how to prevent tumbles – outpatient service 病人安全如何預防跌倒-門診篇

2024/12/13

Uses wheelchairs or sticks

If your family members suffer from moving difficulty, you may borrow a wheelchair from our information desk or request assistance from our emergency room to carry the patient for inpatient visit; also this prevents patients from tumbling on their feet or falling down accidentally. (Figure one)

First of all, wheelchair has to be stretch open completely with its foot step pulled out; stabilize the wheelchair brake to support patients’ getting on it; doing so helps prevent tumble injuries. Make sure that patients have put their feet on the foot step; if patients are unconscious or incapable of holding on to the armrest of the wheelchair, secure their body on the wheelchair and have their family members walking ahead of you.
Patients who rely on the assistance of stick or mobility aids must have our medical staff and your family members check on its reliability and stability for you in order to prevent unanticipated tripping or tumbling. Watch out for signs displayed on the floor regarding floor condition in order to prevent walking on slippery floor. (Figure two)

Walk with the assistance of handrail when taking elevator or walking up-and-down the stairs

People with moving about difficulty should ask for assistance from others when taking elevators; do not take elevators alone if you are illiterate or unfamiliar with its function.
Make use of escalator for it has handrails for you to hold on to; handrails increase your stability with walking. As to people with long dress, avoid standing right by the side of the escalator to prevent your dress being trapped in between stairs and handrails.
Do not let alone of your youngsters riding escalators by themselves or playing with it; as to the elderly and people with fragile body, headaches, and ill eyesight, avoid taking escalator to prevent potential accidents.
Taking stairs is beneficial for you; however, if you have difficulty moving about, fragile physical condition, or poor eyesight; do not walk on stairs. Take the company of your family member to walk on stairs to prevent false steps; and pay attention to children who tag along for they might enjoy climbing up-and-down the stairs playing. (Figure three)

Avoid running dashes

Do not run around the hospital because many patients have moving difficulty and they might not be able to react to your carelessness which might trigger danger dashes.
Patients who take children to the hospital should watch out for their whereabouts because they could bump into other patients unexpectedly and cause undesired accidents and injuries. (Figure four)

Visiting doctors during raining days

Before your coming into the hospital during raining days, wrap your umbrella with plastic bags prepared by the hospital; for it prevents rain-drops from dripping onto the floor which might indirectly cause accidental tumbles of patients.