Bed Sore prevention using Australian Medical Sheepskins

"It's a good thing we toss and turn in bed. That movement continually redistributes the pressure between our bodies and the mattress. If illness or injury prevents this movement, pressure builds up on specific areas of the body. This can cause skin and other tissues to die, creating a bedsore. A few simple steps, however, can help prevent these painful, dangerous, and costly sores, reports the November 2006 issue of the Harvard Health Letter."

In 2006, Medicare in the US, logged nearly 323 000 cases of pressure sores as secondary diagnoses. The average cost of treating these pressure sores was $ 40,381.

Bed sores, pressure sores and decubitus ulcers are painful, debilitating and unnecessary. Use this guide to learn about bed sores and their prevention. Bed sores can develop very quickly and may progress into a Stage 4 pressure ulcer; like the one shown below. Preventing this from happening should be of primary concern for all caregivers.

Bed sores tend to develop on people who are confined to bed or chair. Most often they are first seen in the tailbone or ankle areas. Fortunately, the risk of developing bed sores can be reduced significantly. Preventing bedsores is the logical and most humane method you have of caring for those confined to a bed or wheelchair. Bedsores are unnecessary and, 95% of the time, can be prevented. - American Family Physician, October 1996: v54, n5, p1519 (14)

Bed Sore Prevention Guidelines:

1. Take care of the skin:
Inspect the skin daily. Pay special attention to red areas and pressure points. Minimize moisture contact with the skin. Australian Medical sheepskins reduce pressure and wick moisture away from the skin, keeping it dry.

2. Protect the skin from injury:
 Avoid massaging skin over bony areas. Change body position at least every 2 hours- more frequently in a chair. Reduce friction ( rubbing) by lifting rather than dragging. Do not use donut shape cushions. These can increase the risk of getting pressure ulcers by reducing blood flow in the areas of contact with the cushion. If the patient is confined to bed, reduce pressure points with Australian Medical Sheepskins. The head of the bed should be raised as little as possible. When the head of the bed is raised above 30 degrees, the skin may slide over the bed surface, damaging skin and small blood vessels. Pillows or wedges should be used to keep knees and ankles from touching each other. Patients should avoid lying directly on the hip bone when lying on their side. Pillows and Medical Sheepskin may help. If the patient is completely immobile, pillows should be put under their legs from mid-calf to ankle to keep heels off the bed. Never place pillows under the knees. This cuts off blood circulation. Use Australian Medical Sheepskins to protect the skin from injury.

3. Eat well:
Eat a balance diet. Proteins and calories are very important for healthy skin. Healthy skin is less liable to be damaged.

4. Improve the patients ability to move:
A rehabilitation program can help some people gain movement and independence. The patient can help to prevent most pressure sores.

Bed Sores, decubitus ulcers and pressure sores develop through 4 stages. Notify your medical practitioner and nursing staff if you notice any of the following:

Stage 1. You will notice redness of the intact skin. The skin is unbroken, but inflamed and may be painful and warm to the touch. You might also notice the skin's texture may be spongy or firm.

 


Stage 2. Here you will see the first sign of skin breakdown and partial skin loss. It will look like an abrasion, blister or shallow crater. The outer layer of the skin is broken, red and painful. Surrounding tissue may be pale, red or swollen.

 

Stages 3 & 4 result in ulcer production. The skin has broken down and there is extensive destruction or damage to the underlying muscle, bone or supporting structures. Ulcers are extremely difficult to heal and may take many months for complete repair. Preventing the development of an ulcer should be considered seriously.

Bed sores, decubitus ulcers and pressure sores are unnecessary and can be prevented. Prevention is possible when you provide an environment for the patient that does not foster the formation of bedsores. This environment can be produced by Australian HiTemp UR Medical Sheepskins. These sheepskins are approved FDA Medical Devices.

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Pressure Ulcer Stages Revised by NPUAP

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (HRQ) has produced a Guideline for Pressure Ulcer Prevention- 2011. This guideline sorts out the scientific evidence from the anecdotal. The best scientific evidence recommends:

1."Offer high-protein mixed oral nutritional supplements and/or tube feeding, in addition to the usual diet, to individuals with nutritional risk and pressure ulcer risk because of acute or chronic diseases, or following a surgical intervention."

2. "Use of repositioning should be considered in all at-risk individuals. Repositioning should be undertaken to reduce the duration and magnitude of pressure over vulnerable areas of the body."

3."Repositioning frequency should be influenced by the support surface used."

4."There is no evidence of the superiority of one higher-specification foam mattress over alternative higher-specification foam mattresses."

5. "Alternating-pressure active support overlays and replacement mattresses have a similar efficacy in terms of pressure ulcer incidence."

6. "Avoid use of synthetic sheepskin pads; cutout, ring, or donut-type devices; and water-filled gloves. Natural sheepskin pads might assist in preventing pressure ulcers."

For the complete study, click: Pressure Ulcer Prevention Recommendations

If a bed sore has developed already, the best thing that you can do is to try and remove the cause of the bed sore. Pressure often causes bedsores. Pressure against the small blood vessels in the skin will cause them to collapse. Thus, blood flow to that area will cut off. Skin cells will be deprived of oxygen and nutrients and will die. The death of the skin is the beginning of what is recognised as a bed sore. To prevent this from happening, you must reduce the pressure on the skin. This can be achieved by lying/sitting on a Australian Medical Sheepskin. Australian Medical Sheepskins also wick moisture away from the skin; keeping it dry and firm. Moist skin is more likely to tear when a person moves. Australian Medical Sheepskins reduce friction. If a person lies directly on a Australian Medical Sheepskin, skin abrasion and tears are less likely to happen.

Premium grade Australian Medical Sheepskins (AS4480-1 1998) add comfort and an improved feeling of well-being to those confined to a bed or wheelchair. The 2004 clinical trial at the Royal Melbourne Hospital found that people placed on these Australian Medical Sheepskins had 58% fewer bed sores than those placed on regular bed linen. For clinical trial details, click: Research

  

When a person rests on a  HiTemp UR Medical Sheepskin, there are 3 continuous  bed sore  prevention effects:
1. Pressure reduction at the point of body contact with the sheepskin.
2. Reduction of friction and shearing forces which rub and tear the skin.
3. Prevention of the build-up of skin moisture.

Effective caregivers use HiTemp UR Medical Sheepskins  to prevent or manage bed sores.

You might also consider the following products: (Click on a Catalogue number for more information, or to Order)

1. Low Temp Australian Medical Sheepskins- natural shape- ( M101)

2. Hospital Fleece Nursing Pad ( F103A or F103B)

3. Low Temp Australian Medical Sheepskin Bed Pad- 24" x 36" ( M129BS)

Order online, using the secure payment gateway; chosen by Google for its own online transactions. Or, if you are not sure about the best product for your situation,  call us at:  1- 800- 463- 1985.

New Products from Australia:

This is a new range of products, specially developed for the Prevention of Pressure Sores and Decubitus Ulcers. Made from Merino Superwash Wool with a pile density of 1900 grams/square metre. This consistent wool product ensures that all items are the same..unlike sheepskins which differ from one to another.

Pressure Smart XD products are machine washable and can be dried in the dryer..making them more suitable for institutions that use a common laundry for all articles. These products are recommended for incontinent clients.

At present, we have the M103 available in Pressure Smart XD. Other products will arrive from Australia in mid December.

Enjoy FREE shipping and handling  for orders more than $230. US orders are Tax FREE.

Use our secure on-line payments with or    account.

Click Catalogue to see our products and to order on-line. 

We recommend that you clean, condition and disinfect all sheepskin and wool products with Woolskin...the Sheepskin Shampoo & Conditioner.

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We want to make sure that you receive the product best suited to your need. If you have any questions about our products or their use for  medical conditions, please contact us.  We are here to help you! 

Phone:    1- 800 - 463 - 1985

FAX :          905 - 295 - 3816

Send mail to: sales (at) medicalsheepskins.com

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