8
1.8
Re-Positioning of Patient “Danger of Pinching” WARNING
BRODA Chairs offer the benefits of seat tilt and a calf/leg rest. During the movement of any of
these functions, the following safety measures must be observed:
•
The patient’s arms must be securely positioned inside the chair frame with their hands on
their body.
•
The patient’s legs must be correctly positioned on the calf rests.
•
All of the chair’s caster locks must be applied.
•
Only one caregiver at a time attempts to operate the chair’s functions.
•
Only one chair function is operated at a time.
•
The patient’s and caregiver’s body are clear of all pinch points before operating any of the
chair functions
Failure to follow these safety measures can put the patient's or caregiver’s limbs at risk of injury.
Patients who may be unaware of their body position or unable to maintain a safe body position
have the highest risk of injury from pinching and caregivers should be more cautious with these
patients. A second caregiver may be required to ensure the safety of these patients during these
operations.
1.9
Accidental Motion “Danger of Falling or Collision” WARNING
We recommend BRODA Chairs for indoor use within a long-term care institution and where there
is insufficient slope to cause the chairs to move unaided. Chairs used where the surface is
uneven or sloped are at risk of unintended movement and could become a serious danger to the
patient, caregiver(s), or a third party. We recommend that BRODA Chairs are located away from
stairwells, elevators, and exterior doorways. Placing the patient near handrails, tables or
stationary objects while the caster locks are in place should be done with caution and should be
supervised. Failure to do so may lead to injury due to the patient grabbing hold of the object and
either pulling the object on top of them, or causing the chair to tip over.
1.10
Improper Restraint Use “Risk of Serious Injury” WARNING
We recommend that alternatives to physical restraints be used with patients while seated in the
chair except under the specific instructions of the patient’s primary caregiver and with permission
of the patient’s family or guardian. Physical restraints have been identified as a common cause of
serious injury to patients while they are seated. We recommend that the primary caregiver
responsible for seating first considers the re-positioning options available in the chair to reduce
the risks of sliding, falling, or self-injury.
If a physical restraint is determined to be appropriate to prevent sliding or falling out of the chair,
BRODA can supply a seat belt. In all cases, it is the patient’s primary caregiver who must take
responsibility for the safety of the patient if restraints are used.
1.11
Improper Use WARNING
The improper use of the chair can be dangerous to the patient, caregiver, or a third party through:
•
Unauthorized operation of the chair’s functions.
•
Unauthorized movement of the chair.
•
Inappropriate use of the chair by a patient who has not been assessed by the caregiver
responsible for their seating.
•
Attempted simultaneous operation of multiple chair functions by one or more caregivers.
•
Attempting to move the chair with the caster lock(s) applied.
•
Applying caster lock(s) while chair is in motion.
