This protocol is to ensure the maintenance of healthy skin integrity with the use of any restrictive or supportive equipment; including but not limited to splints, wraps, casts and helmets.
Due to possible skin breakdown with the use of any restrictive or supportive equipment the skin must be cared for and checked regularly to minimize any break in the skin integrity..
1. Staff and student are to keep the area under and around the equipment clean and dry.
2. Staff when removing equipment for changing, showers or scheduled breaks in equipment use should carefully inspect all areas and complete an informational to document the assessment.
3. Report any areas of concern to nursing for evaluation and assessment, looking for redness, irritations, breaks in the skin, rash, bruising or chafing include this observation on an informational as well as calling Nursing to verbally report this at the time it is noted.
4. Nursing is to assess and document twice daily on all areas affected by the use of restrictive or supportive equipment for all students and document the assessment.
5. Areas of concern reported or assessed are to be cleaned, treated with appropriate first aid, documented and reported to the Physician.
6. Measurements of areas along with pictures may be needed to track healing and or progression of breaks in skin integrity, if infection is possible cultures may be taken and sent for testing.