Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-31
THE PREVENTION OF
BED SORES

Bed sores, or pressure sores, are
caused by continued pressure on the
skin. The weight Of the body, or
part of the body, if it comes for a
long time upon one place finally in
terferes with the circulation in the
tissues on which the part rests, and
consequently interferes with the nu-
triton of the affected part. Any It's
sue to which the blood is not bringing
all its necessary food supply tends TO
lose its tome, to become weak ana, IL
the condition persists, to break Gown
altogether.
The direct cause of bed sores IS
pressure, and pressure is aggravated
by moisture, wrinkles i'll the bed
clothes, crumbs or other hard partl-
Giles, lack of cleanliness, friction OF
any kind and rough careless handling.
Bed sores occur most often over bony
prominences, such as the end Of the
spine, elbows, heels, shoulders, hips,
ankles and knees, but they may form
anywhere, even on the ears and the
back of the head. They are more
likely to appear on aged or depleted
patients These painful and serious
sores can almost always be prevented
by faithful care. When they occur,
they result in the great majority OF
eases purely from negligence, and the
person who knows the danger and
yet allows one to develop upon a
patient should never cease to reproach
herself.
Prevention of bed sores depends up
on keeping the skin dry and clean and
upon relieving pressure by special de-
vices and by turning the patient fire.
quently. The parts where pressure
comes should be washed twice daily
with warm water and soap, rubbed
frequently with alcohol to improve
the circulation and to keep up the tone
of the skin and powdered with little
good toilet powder. Much powder is
apt to do harm by collecting in hard,
irritating particles. The bed should
be kept constantly dry and smooth
and free from crumbs, Jumps, wrln6-
les and other inequalities. Prolonged
pressure should be relieved by turning
the patient often-once every waking
hour is not too often if the body is
Small pillows Of thick pads Of cotton
rings.
Small pillows or thick pads of cot
should be placed under the patients
back and shoulders, between the knees
and ankles when he lies on his side,
and in other places where sores are
likely to develop. Rubber rings are
: useful, but few patients like them
for a long time. They should not be
inflated more than is necessary to
raise the affected part from the bed
If much inflated, they are uncomfor-
table and may do narm. The ring may
be covered with muslin pillow case
or it may be wound smoothly with
long strips OF bandagc or old muslin
Ordinarily cotton batting wound with
strips of muslin may be made into
rings and used to remove pressure
from heels. elbows or other parts
These cotton rings are less heating
than pads and give better support.
The first sign of bed sore is either
rcdncsS of the skin or dark dis
coloration like bruise. Every point
where bed sore may form should be
inspected daily. If the slightest symp!
toms, OF a sore appears, the patient
must NOT lie on the affected part and
every effort should be made to keen
the skin from breaking; vigorous rub.
blng at this stage is dangerous and
VII! oy no means make UP for pre-
vlous neglect. The condition should
be reported to the doctor at once. If,
in spite Of all efforts, the skin does
break, a peculiarly difficult kind of
open wound results which must be
treated and dressed according to the
doctors directions.