“FALLING” - Not an Option

Patient safety is a top priority at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) and keeping our patients safe includes decreasing falls. Our Falls Task Team and the Professional Practice Team have made falls a priority and we are including everyone - physicians, nurses, housekeepers and visitors in our falls prevention efforts. We all play a role in keeping patients safe.

There are 7 strategies that have been proven to keep everyone safe:

1. Make sure the call light is within reach;
2. Bring in comfortable non-slip shoes for your loved one to use when walking;
3. Keep side rails down on the bed;
4. Leave the light on in the bathroom before you leave to go home;
5. Remove all unnecessary clutter from the room;
6. Keep the bed in its lowest position;
7. Make sure the brakes on the bed, chair or walker are on.

If you are out and about in the hospital and you see a patient with an orange bracelet, or an orange star above their bed, don’t despair. If that patient has had a history of falls or is at a higher risk for falls they will receive an orange bracelet to wear; this helps everyone in the hospital know that they may need assistance while walking.

Together we can make sure that our patients and loved ones are safe and injury free.