Skin Integrity Nurse Tara Noorman (pictured left), alongside Podiatrist Daryl Susigan and Clinical Nurse Consultant in Wound Care Meagan Shannon. Picture: Supplied
This week marks the beginning of Peninsula Health’s Winter Pressure Injury Awareness Campaign, an annual event held across the health service to celebrate the multidisciplinary team approach for preventing and managing pressure injuries every day.
A pressure injury (previously known as pressure or bed sores) is an area of skin that has been damaged because of pressure or rubbing and is usually located over a bony area.
These injuries can be painful and often lead to longer stays in hospital. If you’ve been bedridden for long enough, the areas of skin that are constantly in contact with the mattress or chair may create a wound.
Our skin integrity and podiatry teams work closely with nursing and medical colleagues, occupational therapists, dietitians and many other allied health colleagues to achieve best practise in preventing pressure injuries.
“We know that more pressure injuries happen during winter, which is why each year we run a special “take the pressure off this winter” campaign to increase awareness among both staff and patients of the increased risk of pressure injuries over winter,” says Skin Integrity Nurse Tara Noorman (pictured left), alongside Podiatrist Daryl Susigan and Clinical Nurse Consultant in Wound Care Meagan Shannon.
“Pressure offloading surfaces such as mattresses and cushions may help. If you use a wheelchair shift position within your chair about every 1 – 2 hours and it’s a good idea to check the skin at least daily for redness or signs of discolouration.”
“Over the past eight years we’ve seen an increase in hospital developed pressure injuries throughout the winter months. Research tells us one of the main contributing factors is decreased blood supply to the skin from peripheral constriction due to the cold.
Go to the Better Health Channel to learn more about how to prevent pressure sores.