Safety Personal Safety Below are some general guidelines to assist with various safety issues: • Maintain good body mechanics. • Immediately report any injury to the designated supervisor. • Wear closed toe shoes. • Wear ID at all times. You may want to carry additional forms of identification in your pocket as well as the Agency’s phone number. • When walking, avoid groups of people lingering on the street. • Do not take short cuts down alleys, through buildings, or across private property. Avoid narrow or confined spaces. • Be familiar with your surroundings. • Present yourself in a confident manner. Do not appear nervous or anxious. • Never walk into a home uninvited. Never walk into a vacant home. • If you have a reason to suspect illegal drug use or alcohol abuse by a patient/client or patient’s/client’s family member, report this to the supervisor. • If any weapons are present in a patient’s/client’s home, either ask that they be put away or leave. Report this to the supervisor immediately. • When changing the patient’s/client’s bed linen, carefully handle linens and be aware of sharp items such as needles, which might be in the patient’s/client’s bed. • Do not allow strangers to enter the patient’s/client’s home. • If there is a conflict with a patient/client or family member, maintain a professional attitude, and notify the supervisor at once. • If a patient/client becomes violent, leave the environment, and notify the supervisor at once. Note: Do not take safety for granted. If in doubt, leave and contact the supervisor immediately. Equipment Safety Notify the supervisor immediately if an injury is sustained as a result of equipment or appliance use. • Obtain instructions on how to properly use equipment. Be aware of appropriate alarms, safety devices, precautions, and troubleshooting measures. • Follow manufacturer’s instructions regarding care of the equipment. • Report any equipment problems such as loose wheels, worn straps, or frayed wires. Only use electrical cords, equipment, and appliances that are in good repair.
