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Pressure Ulcers
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Prevention tips for bed-bound individuals:
Change position at least every two hours.
If you cannot change position yourself, make sure your caregiver uses lifting devices instead of dragging you to change your position. Dragging causes friction that can injure skin.
Use pillows or foam wedges to keep knees and ankles from direct contact with each other.
Use a special mattress with foam, air, gel or water, designed to prevent pressure ulcers.
Raise the head of the bed as little as possible. When it is raised more than 30 degrees, the skin may slide over the surface, which can damage the skin and blood vessels.
Spread weight as evenly as possible. When it is raised more than 30 degrees, the skin may slide over the surface, which can damage the skin and blood vessels.
Spread weight as evenly as possible. Avoid lying directly on hipbone when lying on your side. Support pillows may help.
Pillows can be placed under legs between mid-calf and ankle to keep heels off bed. Do not place pillows behind the knee.
Wash skin properly, as designated in the following section.
Prevention tips for chair-bound individuals:
If you can change positions without help, try to do so every 15 minutes. If not, change position every hour. The increased frequency is necessary because sitting places more pressure on the skin than lying in a bed does.
If you cannot change positions without help, make sure your caregiver uses lifting devices instead of dragging you to change your position. Again, dragging causes friction that can injure skin.
Use foam, gel or air cushions to relieve pressure.
Avoid donut-shaped cushions. They reduce blood flow and cause tissue to swell, which increases risk of developing sores.
Maintain good posture and comfort.
Wash skin properly, as designated in the following section.
Prevention tips for those with incontinence:
Wear soft, absorbent material with a quick-drying surface to minimize contact between urine or fecal matter and skin.
Clean skin as soon as it is soiled.
You or your caregiver should inspect skin at least once per day to identify problem areas before they become serious. Pay special attention to pressure points and reddened areas that do not fade after you change position. You can use a mirror for hard-to-see areas.
Use a soft sponge or cloth to reduce friction.
Bathe with warm water and mild soap. Avoid moisturizers or soap with alcohol.
Keep skin moist with cream or oil, but minimize moisture from wounds, urine, stool or sweat.
Avoid cold or dry air.
You can use special ointments to protect skin from unwanted moisture. A thin layer of cornstarch can reduce friction damage.
Last updated: 01-Jan-00
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