Preparing for and Responding to Emergencies: Intro

Protecting client safety is a daily priority for a Home Care Aide. In an emergency situation, you are
responsible for keeping the client safe. You are also in a good position to notice and help fix problems
before they cause harm.

There are four ways you will protect a client’s safety and well-being:

Practice good safety habits that help prevent accidents.
Follow up on any concerns or problems you observe.
Recognize the symptoms of a health emergency and respond appropriately; and
Prepare for fires, natural disasters, and other emergencies.

Prevent Accidents

Practicing good safety habits can prevent accidents and injuries. Having a safe environment also gives clients a sense of security. Good safety habits include:

keeping walkways clear and well-lit;
safely storing dangerous items; and
taking precautions to prevent falls, burns, and electric shock.
See Checklist for Home Safety, Home Safety for Clients who are Cognitively Impaired, and Environment Hazards in the Resource Directory on pages 314 and 317 for detailed safety tips.

“Follow up” on Concerns

When you see a problem or have concerns about safety, take action to resolve the situation. Talk with the client and/or other members of their care team, and report to your supervisor. By dealing with problems right away, you can prevent serious accidents or dangerous emergencies.

Examples of Appropriate Follow-up
Example A: While assisting John with his shower this morning, you noticed that the water was hotter than usual. You had a hard time getting the temperature just right so he was comfortable. You know that hot water can burn the skin and cause harm. You reported this to your supervisor, who adjusted the hot water heater.
Example B: Shirley, a client who uses a walker, tripped on the mat at the home’s front door today. You noticed that the edge of the mat is curled up and will not lay flat. In order to prevent another trip or worse, a fall, you remove the mat and report the issue to your supervisor.

Responding to a Medical Emergency

Call 911 right away if a client experiences any of the
following medical emergencies:

bleeding that will not stop;
breathing problems (difficulty breathing, shortness of breath);
change in mental status (such as unusual behavior, confusion, difficulty arousing);
chest pain;
choking;
coughing up or vomiting blood;
fainting or loss of consciousness;
head or spine injury;
mental health crisis, such as if someone is a danger to themselves or someone else;
severe or persistent vomiting;
sudden injury due to burns or smoke inhalation, a deep or large wound, etc.;
sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body;
sudden dizziness, weakness, or change in vision;
swallowing a poisonous substance; or
upper abdominal pain or pressure.

Stroke and heart attack are common medical emergencies among older adults. Know the signs of each.

Refer to page 95 for diagrams regarding signs and symptoms of Heart attack & Stroke