Patient Safety Awareness

Patient Safety Awareness Week occurs from March 12 to 18. Its goal is to encourage education on healthcare safety in both patients and the industry itself. As a parent, this week is an opportunity for you to learn how you can help keep your children safe whether it’s in a medical setting or daily life (to avoid the need for medical intervention). Here’s what you should know when it comes to patient safety awareness and how you can be a better advocate.

What is Patient Safety Awareness?

According to the World Health Organization, patient safety is a healthcare discipline that emerged as healthcare systems became increasingly complex and resulted in the rise of patient harm in healthcare facilities. The goal of patient safety is to prevent risk, errors, or harm that occurs to patients during health care.

It’s generally agreed that healthcare services around the world should be effective, safe, and people-centered. High-quality health care should also be timely, equitable, integrated, and efficient.

Raising patient safety awareness is essential because it focuses on eliminating errors or preventable harm. This Journal of Patient Safety study suggests that as many as 400,000 deaths occur in the U.S. each year due to reasons that could be prevented with increased patient safety.

Death is not the only concern (although, it’s obviously a significant one). A lack of patient safety in healthcare settings also affects patients’ physical and emotional health, financial well-being, and family relationships. Since everyone interacts with the healthcare system at some point, patient safety is a public health issue. As a parent, it’s important to equip yourself with as much knowledge as you can about this topic, so you can advocate for your child.

The Most Common Types of Patient Safety Issues

The WHO has put together a list of the most common types of patient safety issues. These are the challenges that Patient Safety Awareness Week looks to address from both the clinical side and the patient side. When you have a pediatric patient some of these will be more or less relevant.

Medication errors: Medication errors are defined as “any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the patient, professional, or consumer,” according to the FDA. This is the most common cause of injury and avoidable harm.
Healthcare-associated infections: Infections are incredibly common in healthcare settings, and they can occur at any healthcare facility including hospitals, surgical centers, and long-term care facilities.
Unsafe surgical procedures: When unsafe surgical procedures occur, they can cause complications in up to 25 percent of patients. Not only do 7 million patients suffer surgical complications annually, but 14 percent will die during or immediately after surgery.
Unsafe injection practices: When unsafe injection practices occur in a healthcare setting, they can transmit infections like hepatitis B and C. These infections are dangerous to both patients and healthcare workers.
Diagnostic errors: Diagnostic errors can occur in around 5 percent of outpatient care settings. About half of these errors have the potential to cause severe harm, and most people will have a diagnostic error in their lifetime.
Unsafe transfusion practices: These practices expose patients to the risk of adverse transfusion reactions and infections.
Radiation errors: Radiation errors are difficult to see and correct, and often, there’s no way to correct the problem after the error is made. An example of a radiation error is radiation contamination when the patient is exposed to too much radiation, and the skin is contaminated.
Sepsis: Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to an infection. It often occurs when you have an infection (in the lung, urinary tract, skin, or gastrointestinal tract) which triggers are larger response throughout your body. Unfortunately, it’s frequently diagnosed too late to save the patient’s life.
Blood clots: Blood clots occur when a gelatinous mass of fibrin and blood cells is formed by the coagulation of blood. This is one of the most common causes of patient harm, and it’s highly preventable.

Parenting and Patient Safety

As a parent, you serve as your child’s safety partner and advocate. Even if you’re not a healthcare professional, you’re part of your child’s care team. You know them the best, and you’re well-equipped to share information and observations about their treatments, medications, and procedures. Understanding the steps you can take at home as well as the ways to partner with the healthcare team will enable you to keep your child safe.

Infant Safety Tips

Bathing

Bathe baby in a specially designed, slip-resistant infant bathtub.
Fill tub with 2-3 inches of warm—not hot—water (check temperature with your wrist or tub thermometer. The water should be between 96-100 degrees Fahrenheit).
Stay within arm’s reach of your baby while he or she is in the tub.

Nursery

Bassinet and/or crib should meet current safety standards.
Keep items such as pillows, comforters, quilts, and stuffed toys out of the bed.
Mattress should be firm and fit snugly within the bassinet/crib.
Remove mobiles when baby can sit on his or her own.
Remove bumper pads and shift crib mattress to lowest position when baby can pull to a standing position.
Keep the bassinet/crib positioned away from windows, heaters, lamps, and other furniture.
Do not leave the baby unattended on a changing table and be sure to use the safety strap.
Avoid walking away from the baby by keeping all changing supplies within arm’s reach of the changing table.
Always put your baby to sleep on his or her back.

Feeding

During the first year of life, eating is constantly an adventure. Baby can rapidly move from breast milk/formula to trying his/her first table foods. Plus, babies use their mouths to learn about their world, so many non-food items also find their way into little mouths. Due to all of the action these mouths see, choking is an inherent danger. Following are a few tips for keeping your baby safe:

Until age 4, avoid foods that can block the airways such as: peanut butter, hot dogs, popcorn, whole grapes, raw carrots, raisins, nuts, hard candies or toffees and chewing gum.
Provide safe finger foods such as bananas, well-cooked pasta and vegetables, o-shaped low-sugar cereals (such as Cheerios).
Keep items such as coins, buttons, balloons, safety pins, barrettes, and rocks out of your child’s reach.
Follow age recommendations on toys, especially those with small parts, and make sure toys are in good repair.
Be vigilant. Small children put many things in their mouths. A watchful adult is often the best defense.

Other

Purchase and correctly install an infant car safety seat.
Avoid burns by not holding your baby while cooking or holding hot food or beverages.
Never leave a baby unattended on beds, sofas, chairs, or any place where he or she may fall.
Install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairways.
Never leave a baby alone with other young children or with pets.
Before baby begins crawling, childproof your home.

Toddler/Preschooler Safety Tips

Poisoning

Poisoning is a particular danger because children this age (1-4 years old) are curious about everything! Younger toddlers will be inclined to put things into their mouths, and preschoolers are curious about items found in drawers and cabinets. Protect your child from an accidental poisoning:

Keep all medicines (and vitamins as well) out of the reach of children.
Never refer to medicine as “candy.”
Store all cleaning products or other dangerous products out of the reach of children and/or in a locked cabinet.
Keep the number for poison control 1(800) 222-1222 on or near your phone.

Burns

Little fingers want to touch everything, so you need to take extra precautions to keep your child from being burned:

Keep your child in a safe place while you are cooking or ironing.
Turn pot/pan handles inward on the stove.
Never allow children to be unsupervised in the kitchen.
Keep items such as matches, lighters, curling irons, candles, and hot foods and liquids out of a child’s reach.

Falls

Children of this age fall often, either because they are still a little unsteady on their feet, or because they are enjoying the thrill of climbing. Some tips to keep your child “well grounded”:

Keep doorways leading to dangerous areas, such as basements or attics, locked.
Keep safety gates at the top and bottom of each stairway.
Keep window guards on all windows.
Put skid-proof pads underneath all rugs.
When grocery shopping, use the safety strap to buckle your child into the seat, and remain close to the cart at all times.
Keep a close eye on your child when they are climbing on furniture or at the playground so you can react quickly in case of a fall.

Choking

This age group is particularly susceptible to choking because so many things – both foods and non-foods – go into their mouths. The following are some key tips for preventing your child from choking:

Until age 4 avoid foods that can block the airways such as: peanut butter, hot dogs, popcorn, whole grapes, raw carrots, raisins, nuts, hard candies or toffees, and chewing gum.
Provide safe finger foods such as bananas, well-cooked pasta and vegetables, o-shaped low-sugar cereals (such as Cheerios).
Keep items such as coins, buttons, balloons, safety pins, barrettes, and rocks out of your child’s reach.
Follow age recommendations on toys, especially those with small parts, and make sure toys are in good repair.
Be vigilant. Small children put many things in their mouths. A watchful adult is often the best defense.

Other

When riding in a vehicle, your child should be restrained in a safety seat appropriate for his/her size and age.
Childproof your home and practice standard home safety tips.
Never leave your child alone in or near water.
Small children can drown even in very shallow water, such as the bathtub, wading pool or toilet.
Children should wash their hands frequently, especially after playing outside. Kids this age still put their hands and other objects into their mouths often, and this is the chief way of transmitting colds and viruses.
Outside play should always be supervised by an adult.

School-Age Safety Tips

Protect your school-age child (age 5-12):

Continue to follow car safety guidelines appropriate for your child’s age and size.
Inform your child concerning school bus safety and bicycle safety.
Know the safe way to participate in organized sports. Learn how to play it safe.
Continue to follow general home safety guidelines.
Practice Internet safety.
Teach your child to swim, and practice water safety.
Teach your child fire safety, and make sure the whole family knows what to do in case of a fire.
Make sure your child is aware of “stranger danger” and knows the difference between “good touch” and “bad touch.”

Pre-Teen and Teens Safety Tips

Helmets

We have a simple saying: “Use your head, wear a helmet.” It is the single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes.
Make sure your child has the right size helmet and wears it every time when riding, skating, or scooting.
You’d be surprised how much kids learn from watching you, so it’s extra important for parents to model proper behavior. Wear a helmet, even if you didn’t when you were a kid.
Your children’s helmet should meet the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s standards. When it’s time to purchase a new helmet, let your children pick out their own; they’ll be more likely to wear it for every ride.

Bikes

Ensure proper bike fit by bringing the child along when shopping for a bike. Select one that is the right size for the child, not one he or she will grow into.
Before the ride, make sure the reflectors are secure, brakes work properly, gears shift smoothly, and tires are tightly secured and properly inflated.
Teach your kids to make eye contact with drivers. Bikers should make sure drivers are paying attention and are going to stop before they cross the street.
Tell your kids to ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, not against it. Stay as far to the right as possible. Use appropriate hand signals and respect traffic signals, stopping at all stop signs and stoplights.
When riding at dusk, at dawn or in the evening, be bright and use lights – and make sure your bike has reflectors as well. It’s also smart to wear clothes and accessories that have retro-reflective materials to improve biker visibility to motorists.

Pedestrian Safety

If your children need to use a cell phone, make sure they stop walking and find a safe area to talk. When using headphones, kids should be sure to look up and pay extra attention and remove the headphones when crossing the street.
Cross streets at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Most injuries happen mid-block or someplace other than intersections.
It’s always best to walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
Tell kids to look left, right and left again when crossing the street. Teach them to never run or dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
Remind kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them and to watch out for cars that are turning or backing up.

School Sports and Activities

Before playing organized sports, make sure your child receives a pre-participation physical exam, or PPE, performed by a doctor, or a nurse practitioner or qualified clinician under the supervision of a physician. Whomever performs the exam, the same practices should be followed including the need for a medical history.
Encourage children to drink water before, during and after athletic activities or play.
Warming up and stretching before play can release muscle tension and help prevent sports-related injuries, such as muscle tears or sprains.
An off-season is important. It is recommended that kids get 10 consecutive weeks of rest from any one sport every year.
Make sure your coach is trained in first aid and CPR, and understands how to prevent, recognize and/or respond to concussions and overuse injuries.

Teen Drivers Safety

The Hard Facts

Every day, six teens are killed in a motor vehicle crash in the U.S. In fact, crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, ahead of all other types of injury, violence or disease.

Top Tips

It’s never too late to be a good role model. Your son or daughter has been watching what you do in cars since they were small, and will model their good and bad behavior after what they see you do. Even if you’ve made mistakes, start doing the right thing today.
Buckle up on every ride, every time; front seat and back. Make buckling up a habit starting when kids are young.
Make a formal agreement with your teen driver, setting clear expectations about your family rules.– Discuss different scenarios your new driver may encounter and what scares you about these situations. Define your zero-tolerance rules for driving, addressing speeding, alcohol and texting.
Make sure your teen gets at least 50 hours of practice with an experienced driver in a variety of road conditions. Check your state law to find out what’s required, but don’t stop there if your child needs more time.
Limit the number of passengers that is allowed in the car with your teen. The risk for a fatal crash increases as the number of passengers increases. Every child is different so set your rules based on your own assessment of your child.
Encourage your child to speak up if a driver of any age isn’t driving safely and makes them feel scared. Provide them with alternative plans to get home, just in case.

Patient Safety in a Medical Setting

Even if you do everything to keep your child healthy and safe, there will be times when they need to be in a medical setting. In those scenarios, you are there to advocate for them. This study notes that many parents feel the need to watch over their child’s hospital care to prevent mistakes. Parents who are active in this realm already are more likely to perform behaviors specific to safe medication use.

Here are some other ideas of ways you can stay active as a parent in a medical setting.

Let your provider know anything that you think could be helpful about your child, their symptoms, or a condition they’re experiencing. You’re a constant in their life and could have valuable insights and observations.
Approach a member of your child’s healthcare team if something doesn’t seem right. Always express your concern clearly and respectfully. If it helps you to remember specific details, write them down.
Ask for details about the next steps from the provider. Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification to ensure you’re both on the same page.
Follow-up if you don’t hear from your provider. You should trust your instincts if something isn’t right. If you’re hesitant, remember that you are your child’s advocate.
Communicate changes in your child’s condition or treatment across providers if they see multiple services or specialists. This way, they won’t receive treatment for one condition that conflicts with the other.

Final Thoughts

Parenting your child in a medical setting can feel scary and overwhelming. Working with the right care team is critical. Jacksonville Pediatric Care Centers provide care. Dr. Benitez and his team of Jacksonville pediatricians work around the clock to provide exceptional pediatric care. We prioritize patient safety every day and work with parents and caregivers to ensure quality care for their children.