Are you at risk?

Are You at Risk?

How do you know if you are at risk for developing a pressure ulcer? If you are under the care of health professionals you can ask to have your level of risk checked by one of them. They will use a questionnaire developed just for this purpose. If you are not under care, you can answer the questions below to find out if you are at risk.

First a bit of background information: A pressure ulcer is a change or break in the skin caused by constant pressure, especially over a bony area such as the ankle, tailbone, hip or elbow. Heels, ears and the back of the head are other areas that are prone to pressure ulcers. A pressure ulcer can appear as a red area on the skin or a blister or an open sore.

Pressure ulcers develop when a person stays for too long in one position without moving. Blood flow to a body part is reduced so that the tissue is starved for nutrients. Over a short or long period, depending on how high the pressure on the body part is, the tissue may be damaged enough to cause an ulcer. To reduce the chances of getting a pressure ulcer, you need to sense the discomfort that begins when the tissue is first starved of nutrients and then shift your position to relieve the pressure on that spot.

Sometimes, though, pressure ulcers develop when the body is rubbed, dragged or slid against a surface such as bed sheets. The result of this sliding action is referred to as friction or shear, depending on the type of damage it causes.

Pressure ulcers are also known as pressure sores, bedsores, decubitus ulcers.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Now that you know how pressure ulcers develop, you can ask yourself the following questions to find out how high your risk of getting one might be. If you answer “yes” to all of the questions, you are not at high risk. If you answer “no” to any of the questions, you should seek help from a health-care expert to develop a plan for reducing your risk.

Q Do you have sensation in all parts of your body?

This question is asking if you can sense discomfort or pain when pressure has cut off the blood flow to a body part. If you can’t sense that something is wrong, it is hard for you to do anything about it. If you don’t have sensation to every part, you will need to remind yourself to shift your position every few minutes.

Q Are you capable of moving all the parts of your body?

If you can’t move yourself, you are at high risk for developing a pressure ulcer because you will be unable to take the pressure off a body part that is against a surface, such as a bed or chair. You may need assistance from others to help you move. In some cases, a whole range of devices such as trapeze bars and special mattresses that move you can be employed. If you need assistance from others, they need to know how to move you properly so you aren’t dragged across a surface, which might lead to damage from friction or shear.

Q Is your skin moist, but not too moist?

Too much moisture on your skin, especially from urine and perspiration, can cause it to break down easily. Skin with normal moisture levels feels dry to the touch.

Q Are you physically active?

If you are able to walk regularly throughout the day, you are at much lower risk than someone who is confined to bed or chair.

Q Are you adequately nourished?

A surprising fact about pressure ulcer prevention is how important eating well is. A person who does not get enough nutrients like protein, vitamins, minerals and fluids is at higher risk for developing a pressure ulcer than someone who gets enough of the right kinds of foods.

Steps to Pressure Ulcer Prevention

Now that you know what your risk level is, you can begin to take steps to make sure you don’t develop a pressure ulcer.

If you are at low risk: Keep doing what you’re doing—keep moving, eat well and drink plenty of fluids.

If you are at moderate risk: Identify areas that you can change, such as eating better and doing more activity. Get help in the areas where you need it; if you can’t feel all parts of your body set an alarm to sound frequently to remind yourself to move; a watch alarm is convenient. If you can’t move yourself, get assistance from others.

If you are at high risk: Work with a care provider to develop a pressure ulcer prevention plan.

Top Tips for Preventing Pressure Ulcers

To reduce pressure on any one body part, shift your body often so that it is in a new position. If you cannot do this yourself, ask for help.
Avoid lying for long periods of time on bony areas such as your hip.
To avoid friction and shear, use lifting or transferring devices such as a transfer board or a trapeze bar.
Keep skin clean and dry. Moisturize as necessary.
Protect skin from incontinence (loss of bowel and bladder function) using a skin barrier and incontinence pad.
Eat a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids to keep skin healthy and hydrated.
Do not rub reddened areas of skin. This will cause more damage

For more detailed information on our top tips, visit the Top Prevention Tips page.

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