What are the two most important precautions when restraining a patient?

What are the two most important precautions when restraining a patient?

• A. Under no circumstances are patients to be restrained in the prone position; patients may not be restrained with their arms behind their backs or in an ankle-to-wrist (hog-tied) manner, or in any other position which impairs airway or breathing.
• B. Allow restraints in any position if the patient is violent.
• C. Restraints can be applied for long durations without monitoring.
• D. Airway must be opened by medical control before restraining.

Answer: (A)

Preserving airway and breathing is the priority when restraining a patient. Any restraint should not place the person in a position that blocks the airway or makes ventilation difficult. That’s why the safest approach is to avoid the prone position and to avoid any restraint configuration, such as tying the arms behind the back or hog-tying, that could impair breathing or airway patency. When restraints are needed, use the minimum amount required and keep the chest and abdomen free to expand, with continuous monitoring of airway, breathing, and circulation. Choosing any option that allows restraint in positions that compromise breathing is unsafe, since efficient ventilation and airway patency can deteriorate quickly in agitated or combative patients. Waiting for medical control to “open” the airway before restraining isn’t appropriate, because you must manage the airway as needed during restraint. And long-duration restraints without monitoring ignore the vital need to continually assess and adjust for airway and breathing, which can change rapidly.

Preserving airway and breathing is the priority when restraining a patient. Any restraint should not place the person in a position that blocks the airway or makes ventilation difficult. That’s why the safest approach is to avoid the prone position and to avoid any restraint configuration, such as tying the arms behind the back or hog-tying, that could impair breathing or airway patency. When restraints are needed, use the minimum amount required and keep the chest and abdomen free to expand, with continuous monitoring of airway, breathing, and circulation.

Choosing any option that allows restraint in positions that compromise breathing is unsafe, since efficient ventilation and airway patency can deteriorate quickly in agitated or combative patients. Waiting for medical control to “open” the airway before restraining isn’t appropriate, because you must manage the airway as needed during restraint. And long-duration restraints without monitoring ignore the vital need to continually assess and adjust for airway and breathing, which can change rapidly.