Prevent inpatient falls with our Fall Prevention Kit
Falls Prevention Week is around the corner, and we are focusing on the prevention of inpatient falls. Our yellow fall prevention kit was designed for staff to easily identify patients who are at risk of falls. It is a discreet yet effective monitoring system to inform staff of high-risk patients without overtly labelling them as a falls risk.
When considering patients, their comfort, dignity, and autonomy needs to be a priority. Our Fall Prevention Kit increases a patients confidence and independence by encouraging them to walk around, and take care of themselves during their recovery, Learn more about the benefits and features of our kit.
What is a Fall Prevention Kit?
A fall prevention kit is a set of specific products designed to reduce the risk of inpatient falls. It includes:
1 x Yellow Fall Prevention Blanket
1 x Pair of Fall Prevention Slipper Socks
It is an excellent way for staff to easily identify patients that are at extra risk of falling and serves as a reminder to staff to be extra vigilant in their patient observation. This kit is primarily used as a visual aid, designed to highlight and thereby reduce the risk of patients sustaining serious injury from a fall.
The bright yellow colour reminds clinical staff, porters, and family members that extra precautions need to be taken with particular patients. The launderable blanket can remain on the patient throughout their patient journey. It can be placed on the top of the bed, on the lap, and over the shoulders.
Yellow fall prevention socks
Double tread grip, protects the wearer even if the sock twists.
Sold in bulk quantities via NHS Supply Chain.
Available in a variety of adult shoe sizes.
Stretchy and comfortable to wear.
Latex free material.
Yellow fleece blanket
Dual function blanket, acts as visual aid and adds a layer of warmth.
Flame retardant, complies with BS EN ISO 12952-2:2010 Parts 1&2.
Can be used on the lap, over the shoulders, or on the bed.
Easy to clean polyester fabric.
Measures 71cm x 96cm.
What are the benefits of using a Fall Prevention Kit?
Falls were the most frequently reported incident affecting hospital inpatients in 2023, highlighting the significance of the problem. As of 2022, more than 240,000 falls were reported in acute hospitals and mental health trusts in England and Wales. Preventing inpatient falls not only improves patient outcomes, but it can have wider reaching benefits to the hospital and Trust.
Save time and money
Falls cost the NHS over £2 billion per year, and cause patients unnecessary distress and loss of independence. Preventing falls reduces the time taken for the patient to recover, as well as time spent completing incident reports and paperwork. It reduces the cost of medication, meals, patient wear, and all the associated costs of a longer hospital stay.
This preventative protocol frees up beds and staff to deal with other matters, which is particularly important in busy hospitals with limited staff. In general, preventing falls reduces the overall strain on the hospital. Clinical reviews have shown that Interweave’s Fall Prevention Kit can reduce the number of injuries from falls.
Versatility of products
The primary purpose of the products within the kit is to highlight those patients who are at risk of a fall. However, the slipper socks and fleece blanket are versatile products. The non-slip socks provide are a physical walking aid, as they provide more grip when walking on hard floors and tiles. However, they also improve a patients confidence in walking, and generally have a positive mental impact.
In addition, the fleece blanket provides a warm and comforting layer for patients. This is useful in the case of sedentary patients who may be producing less body heat. Using a lap blanket can provide some comfort to nervous patients too.
Discreet yet effective
The Fall Prevention Kit is a quick and easy way to implement a visual protocol in a hospital – without overtly labelling a patient as a falls risk. There are other solutions to identify falls risks in hospitals that do not provide as much dignity and privacy for the patient. This type of identifier is ideal for patients who are at risk of falling due to challenging behaviour.
Who is the kit suitable for?
Our kit is suitable for patients experiencing confusion due to dementia or delirium, as well as patients exhibiting the following:
- Challenging behaviour
- Agitation and wandering
- Inability to use the call bell reliably
- Reduced safety awareness and disorientation
- Likeliness to attempt to mobilise on their own against professional advice
Purchase the kit
There are several convenient ways to purchase the yellow fall prevention kit for your facility or organisation. You can purchase directly from our website, or if you are an NHS organisation, you can shop the kit via Supply Chain.
If you require larger quantities, or have questions about the kit, you can get in touch with our friendly team who can assist you further.