Page 22 - Volunteers

Keeping Safe

S = Safe environment

You can:
• Help patients/residents put their personal items where they are easy to reach
• Provide patients/residents with a safest routes when giving directions

Tell staff if you see:
• Items, cords, or other items on the floor that patients/residents could trip on
• Lights in patient/resident rooms are off or not working
• Water or other spills on the floor
• Any broken equipment
• Anything you think could cause a fall

A = Ask for help

You can:
• Encourage patients/residents to use their call bell if they have been instructed that they need
help to move or get out of bed

Tell a staff member if you see:
• Someone doing something unsafe, such as struggling to get up or walk alone when they are
not supposed to

F = Fall risk awareness

You can:
• Check that a patient’s/resident’s call bell is in a spot where they can reach it
• Ask the staff if you can give a patient a glass of water
• Open blinds or turn on lights in rooms during the day

Tell staff if you see:
• A patient/resident walking without shoes or non-slip socks
• A patient/resident with a Falls Risk wristband or tag walking by themselves
• Signs of unsteadiness when escorting a patient/resident

E = Engage patients, families, and team

You can:
• Spend time with patients/residents by talking about the Universal Fall Precautions
• Talk to patients/residents and families while helping them with way-finding

Tell staff if you see:
• Anything that could cause a fall
• If a patient/resident or family member tells you something that could avoid a fall 22