To continue the discussion....
With the most severely disabled clients one must consider the additional problems of leaking body fluids in the bed environment, the use of pressure relief mattresses and movement / electric-over blanket cable hazards associated with the use of profile beds.
Richard
Richard W Caley BSc, MSc, CSci, MIPEM
Clinical Scientist (Rehabilitation)
Medical Physics
Pinderfields Hospital
Wakefield, WF1 4DG
Tel: 01924 212234
Fax: 01924 212015
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>>> [log in to unmask] 11/10/04 09:30am >>>
Have we actually considered the feature set of electric blankets on the
market?
Granted it's a long time since I considered such things but my
understanding is that under blankets, those which you lie on top of are
not suitable to have switched on while in bed, you use them to warm your
bed before you get in to it. Those which you do use while in bed are
over blankets, for example you might typicly have it between an over
sheet and other blankets. These are usually the types with variable
temporature controls.
So in regard to this particular case which type of blanket is the client
asking for, does one sort carry more risks than an other? If they were
to have an under blanket then it would be switched off before they got
in to bed so providing the heat is checked before getting in to bed
there is minimal risk. If they are using an over blanket then do they
have the ability to push the blanket off should other options fail e.g
the control unit fall out of reach.
Adrian Higginbotham
Accessibility and inclusion adviser
British Educational Communications and Technology Agency - BECTA
Tel: Direct dial 024 7679 7333 - Internal extension #2287
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.becta.org.uk/
BECTA, Millburn Hill Road, Science Park, Coventry, CV4 7JJ
-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Howe [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 10 November 2004 03:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Controlling an Electric Blanket from an Env. Control System
Colin,
Further to Richard's comments, we also need to consider the risk if we
do nothing. In this case this may present a risk of hypothermia. The
risk of hypothermia may be addressed with a telecare temperature sensor
(such as http://www.tunstall.co.uk/lowtemperature.htm) rather than self
regulating with the electric blanket.
It may be worth investigating the thermal properties of the clients top
blankets and electric blanket power output - the inadvertent use of the
electric blanket may increase temperature but this would only pose a
risk if her body was unable to regulate this increase.
Some electric blankets are supplied with a mechanical adjustment for
temperature control which may reduce risk of supplying a high
temperature (provided you have good compliance from patient and care
staff).
Finally, dont forget that electric blankets do not carry an
insignificant risk of fire, particularly for the elderly
population(http://www.dti.gov.uk/homesafetynetwork/eb_intro.htm).
Jonathan Howe
> Dear Colin,
> I always think that risk analysis is often helped by posing a few
> questions, namely:
>
> How many fault conditions are we protecting against, e.g. thermostat
> too high + patient switch out of reach?
>
> Is the blanket a burn hazard or would the client be uncomfortable,
> i.e. what is the worst that could happen?
>
> How is the situation different from the room being too hot due to the
> room thermostat being too high?
>
> Is the electric blanket meant to be worn when switched on?
>
> Is the critical problem 'not being able to reach the switch' and how
> can this risk be minimised?
>
> You require an overall safety net if the risk is life threatening and
> may need to consider a means of automatic monitoring/responding to the
> fault condition that does not rely on any intervention from the
> client.
>
> Risk assessment needs to be a measured balance between providing the
> client with independence and the ability to accept a controlled level
> of risk, which may result in discomfort but falls short of anything
> more severe.
>
> Just my initial thoughts, hope it helps.
>
> Kind Regards
> Richard
>
> Richard W Caley BSc, MSc, CSci, MIPEM
> Clinical Scientist (Rehabilitation)
> Medical Physics
> Pinderfields Hospital
> Wakefield, WF1 4DG
> Tel: 01924 212234
> Fax: 01924 212015
>
> CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
> The information contained in this email message is legally privileged
> and confidential information, intended only for the use of the
> addressee. If the reader of this message is not the intended
> recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
> distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you
> received this email or Fax in error, please immediately notify us.
>
>
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
> >>> [log in to unmask] 11/09/04 10:02am >>>
> Dear All
>
> Recently we received a request from a patient who is about to be
> provided with an environmental control system. She has requested that
> her electric blanket be controllable from the environmental control
> system. The patient is alone in her home throughout the night. I
> have refused this on safety grounds but I did say that I'd ask
> colleagues to get advice. Hence this e-mail.
>
> I would prefer if this electrical device could be controlled by a
> carer who would take responsibility for setting the temperature etc I
> think risks could arise if the user switched the blanket on
> independently when set to a high temperature setting. A failure
> within the environmental control system, e.g. it falling slightly out
> of her reach, would then result in a serious hazard.
>
> The patient will be receiving mains boxes for lamps and a fan.
> Ultimately I can't stop her asking a carer to connect her electric
> blanket to one of these boxes.
>
> I'd be grateful for any advice. Maybe some of you have received
> similar requests in the past. If so how did you respond? Are there
> any additional safeguards that can be introduced?
>
> Colin Geggie
> Clinical Bioengineer
> Rehabilitation Engineering Services
> Eastern General Hospital
> Seafield Road
> Edinburgh
> EH6 7LN
> Tel. 0131 536 4695
>
>
>
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