Home Health Aide Safety Rules

Home health aides help their patients with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, toileting and dressing. There are several rules aides should follow to keep themselves and their patients safe.

Infection Control

• Hand washing is very important to prevent germs from spreading. Hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 15 seconds before and after providing patient care. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also recommended, except in cases where someone has come into contact with body fluids or body substances. Gowns, masks, face shields and protective eyewear may be needed if there is chance of transmitting communicable diseases.

Fall Prevention

• Home health aides most often work with the elderly, who may be unsteady on their feet. To prevent falls, home health aides should be careful to wipe up any spills and to keep floors clear of debris or clutter. There should be proper lighting. The home health aide should also stand by, ready to help the patient if he starts to fall. Safety equipment, such as bed side-rails, safety bars, gait belts, and wheelchair and bed brakes, should be used properly.

Accident Prevention

• Accidents can happen in a variety of ways. Home health aides need to take precautions against burns (such as from hot liquids), poisons (from toxic substances) and suffocation (from choking or smoke inhalation). The patient should have a call light or another means of calling for help in an emergency. The home health aide must check all patients regularly and often. Sharps, biohazardous wastes and other materials should be disposed of properly, according to agency guidelines.

Disaster Planning

• Fires and other disasters can happen at any time. Home health aides should know how to evacuate the patient in case of a fire or power outage. Fre extinguishers, alarms and a telephone must be on hand, ready to use at a moment's notice.

Medical Error Prevention

• In order to prevent errors in care, home health aides are provided with a plan that needs to be followed exactly. Each item on the plan needs to be followed and no other steps should be taken without the direction of a licensed medical professional, such as a doctor or nurse. Home health aides should not give medicines or provide other medical care.

Other Precautions

• If the patient is at risk of wandering away, an alarm system should be used. If he is combative and capable of injuring himself or others, restraints may be used, but they must be checked often and removed every two hours.

  If the patient is in danger of physical, emotional or mental abuse, the home health aide must report the situation to her employer, and may be required to call police or social service agencies for help.

Home Health Aide Safety

• Home health aides should use proper body mechanics, proper shoes and proper safety clothing in order to prevent injury and illness. If the aide senses an unsafe situation, he should report it to his supervisor and properly document it according to agency guidelines.