Safety TutorialSafety TutorialforforPhysical Therapist AidsPhysical Therapist Aids

Theresa CarrTheresa Carr

Utopia High SchoolUtopia High School

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Training Tasks for Training Tasks for Physical Therapist AidPhysical Therapist Aid Clean and organize Clean and organize

work area work area Disinfect Disinfect

equipment after equipment after treatment treatment

Secure patients Secure patients into or onto into or onto therapy equipment therapy equipment

Transport patients Transport patients to and from to and from treatment areas treatment areas

Record treatment Record treatment given and given and equipment usedequipment used

Perform clerical Perform clerical duties duties

Maintain Maintain equipment and equipment and furniture to keep it furniture to keep it in good working in good working condition condition

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Pre-TestPre-Test

Can assist in therapeutic Can assist in therapeutic massage?massage?

Cannot secure patients Cannot secure patients into therapy equipment?into therapy equipment?

Allowed to disassemble Allowed to disassemble equipment?equipment?

Fills out forms on Fills out forms on patients?patients?

Coordinates patients Coordinates patients treatment?treatment?

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Pre-Test AnswersPre-Test Answers

Can assist in therapeutic Can assist in therapeutic massage? massage? TRUETRUE

Cannot secure patients Cannot secure patients into therapy equipment? into therapy equipment? FALSEFALSE

Allowed to disassemble Allowed to disassemble equipment? equipment? TRUETRUE

Fills out forms on Fills out forms on patients? patients? TRUETRUE

Coordinates patients Coordinates patients treatment? treatment? FALSEFALSE

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Appropriate ClothesAppropriate Clothes

Physical therapist aid Physical therapist aid uniform uniform

Hair is to be worn away Hair is to be worn away from the face and from the face and secured if necessary secured if necessary

White or black soft sole White or black soft sole shoes shoes

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Safety EquipmentSafety Equipment

Medical gloves and face Medical gloves and face protectionprotection

Wheelchairs in proper Wheelchairs in proper working orderworking order

Chairs and tables Chairs and tables sterilized and securedsterilized and secured

Physical rehabilitation Physical rehabilitation machines inspectedmachines inspected

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ToolsTools

Massage instrumentsMassage instruments Physical rehabilitation Physical rehabilitation

toolstools Measuring tools for Measuring tools for

flexibilityflexibility SanitizersSanitizers Tools to repair Tools to repair

equipmentequipment

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Equipment/MachineryEquipment/Machinery

Massage equipmentMassage equipment Physical rehabilitation Physical rehabilitation

machinesmachines Heat and cold therapyHeat and cold therapy Elastic physical Elastic physical

therapy bandstherapy bands Ultrasound machinesUltrasound machines WheelchairsWheelchairs TablesTables

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ElectricalElectrical

UltrasoundUltrasound MessageMessage WheelchairsWheelchairs Repair equipmentRepair equipment Computer systemComputer system

1010

Floors, Doors, ExitsFloors, Doors, Exits

Floors must be clean and sanitizedFloors must be clean and sanitized There cannot be things on the floor There cannot be things on the floor

which would cause a patient to fallwhich would cause a patient to fall Doors must be identifiedDoors must be identified Exits are clearly markedExits are clearly marked Doorways and exits must be Doorways and exits must be

unobstructedunobstructed

1111

Chemical HazardsChemical Hazards

Cleaning fluidsCleaning fluids SanitizersSanitizers Ultrasound gelUltrasound gel Massage creamsMassage creams

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Ergonomic Hazards - Ergonomic Hazards - LiftingLifting Ergonomic training will be providedErgonomic training will be provided Proper lifting of patients is required to Proper lifting of patients is required to

prevent injuryprevent injury Knowledge of safe movement of Knowledge of safe movement of

equipmentequipment

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Infectious diseasesInfectious diseases

Gloves must be worn during ALL Gloves must be worn during ALL patient contactpatient contact

Face masks are required if patient Face masks are required if patient has an infectious diseasehas an infectious disease

These patients are separated These patients are separated from othersfrom others

Everything must be sterilized Everything must be sterilized

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FireFire

Where are the fire extinguishers?Where are the fire extinguishers?– At every entrance/exitAt every entrance/exit– In all separate physical therapy roomsIn all separate physical therapy rooms– Secured on the wall in the main therapy Secured on the wall in the main therapy

roomroom– In the hallways and restroomsIn the hallways and restrooms

All employees will All employees will participate in fire participate in fire drills and will learn drills and will learn how to use how to use extinguishersextinguishers

1515

Robbery, Bomb ScaresRobbery, Bomb Scares

In case of an emergency that In case of an emergency that threatens the patients and staff:threatens the patients and staff:– The staff will move patients to a The staff will move patients to a

previously identified “safe” sitepreviously identified “safe” site– Designated staff member calls 911Designated staff member calls 911– Emergency care is delivered, Emergency care is delivered,

if necessary if necessary

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Angry/threatening Angry/threatening CustomersCustomers Remain calm and non-Remain calm and non-

threateningthreatening Physical Therapist Aid Physical Therapist Aid

will summon their will summon their supervisorsupervisor

Make sure other Make sure other patients are safepatients are safe

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HOW and to WHOM DO HOW and to WHOM DO YOU REPORT AN INJURYYOU REPORT AN INJURY

Secure immediate care from Secure immediate care from qualified staff member for injured qualified staff member for injured patientpatient

Report injury to supervisorReport injury to supervisor Fill out accident reportFill out accident report

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Post TestPost Test

Lifting patients can cause Lifting patients can cause injury?injury?

Fire procedures are not Fire procedures are not required?required?

PT Aids must know how to PT Aids must know how to disassemble equipment.disassemble equipment.

Wearing high heel shoes is Wearing high heel shoes is allowed.allowed.

PT Aids should administer PT Aids should administer CPR to an accident victim.CPR to an accident victim.

Exits must be clearly Exits must be clearly marked.marked.

All employees will All employees will participate in fire drills.participate in fire drills.

Protective gloves are Protective gloves are optional when handling optional when handling patients.patients.

If a patient becomes If a patient becomes upset, the PT Aid should upset, the PT Aid should summon their supervisor.summon their supervisor.

In the event of a bomb In the event of a bomb scare, continue assigned scare, continue assigned job until the threat is over.job until the threat is over.

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Post Test AnswersPost Test Answers

Lifting patients can cause Lifting patients can cause injury? injury? TRUETRUE

Fire procedures are not Fire procedures are not required? required? FALSEFALSE

PT Aids must know how to PT Aids must know how to disassemble equipment. disassemble equipment. TRUETRUE

Wearing high heel shoes is Wearing high heel shoes is allowed. allowed. FALSEFALSE

PT Aids should administer PT Aids should administer CPR to an accident victim. CPR to an accident victim. FALSEFALSE

Exits must be clearly Exits must be clearly marked. marked. TRUETRUE

All employees will All employees will participate in fire drills. participate in fire drills. TRUETRUE

Protective gloves are Protective gloves are optional when handling optional when handling patients. patients. FALSEFALSE

If a patient becomes upset, If a patient becomes upset, the PT Aid should summon the PT Aid should summon their supervisor. their supervisor. TRUETRUE

In the event of a bomb In the event of a bomb scare, continue assigned job scare, continue assigned job until the threat is over. until the threat is over. FALSEFALSE

2020

Safety Web ResourcesSafety Web Resources

American Physical Therapy Association American Physical Therapy Association http://www.apta.orghttp://www.apta.org

New York Physical Therapy Association New York Physical Therapy Association http://www.nypta.orghttp://www.nypta.org

Journal of American Physical Therapy Journal of American Physical Therapy Association http://www.ptjournal.orgAssociation http://www.ptjournal.org

OHS Physical Therapy Safety Committee OHS Physical Therapy Safety Committee http://www.udel.edu/OHS/safetycomm/ptsc.hthttp://www.udel.edu/OHS/safetycomm/ptsc.htmlml

http://www.iseek.org/sv/13000.jsp?http://www.iseek.org/sv/13000.jsp?id=100410id=100410