The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-01-12
HOME CARE OF THE SICK
by Helen r. kersey
Section II.

/ " NJ All pOSSlDle, anu tn'I' SH'''N
ere en- Of quiet" with almost no
visitors. The iron bed, enamellcd
white with good springs and mattress
is the most sanitary and most easily
kept clean. To be sure that the mat
tress is well protected, place n draw
sheet" across at little below the
middle Of the bed This draw sheet
may be rubber. OF II may be merely
strip Of oil-cloth at least yard
wide, and long enough to cross the
bed and tuck under the mattress on
the sides.
Over the draw sheet is spread the
the regular muslin sheet (called the
linen sheet in this paper). This sheet
should be about three yards in length
and two and half yards in width,
in order that il can be folded under
/ the mattress mt the ends and sides.
This is very important because II not
only is sanitary but il protects and
lengthens the life Of the mattress. In
placing the sheet on the bed, fold the
ends under the mattress first; catch
up the corner Of the sheet and place
il close against the side Of the mat
tress. making n triangular or "envel-
one" fold at the side-end. Arrange
the corners in this way and tuck the
sides smoothly under the mattress.
DO not allow any wrinkles to be in the
sheets as they cause bed sores for the
patient.
The top sheet should be placed with
the end under the foot Of the mattress
Make two lengthwise folds in the top
sheet to allow plenty Of room for the
patients feet. These folds should
be gradually smoothed out at the
head of the bed Blankets should be
placed loosely over the sheet. but
tucked in at the foot to.insure warmth
for the feet. The top sheet is folded
down over the blankets at the head
Of the bed. 10 portect them. Over the
blankets wash counterpart or a
sheet should be placed To protect the
blankets. The top of the counterpane
can be folded under the blankets and
sheet to hold them together. Thh
pillows for sick bed should be soft
and easily flufred into shape to afford
as much comfort as possible for the
sick person.
The bed rest is convenience
which can be made with an ordinary,
straight chair. The chair is turned
until the top Of the back and the front
81 the seat are resting on the bed with
the chair legs at the head of the bed.
The back of the inverted chair forms
"A good rest for the patient when he
wishes to SIT up in bed II is well to
use this at meal time, when neat
tray can hold the food and be placed
on the patients lap.
OF course a sick person should be
; clothed in only loose, comfortable
; night dress which allows plenty OF
freedom for the body. Neither a
child nor an adult should be allowed
To "le around" when he is not feeling
well. II he is too sick TO be out Of the
bed and to be active, he should be un'
dressed and put in bed. Not only is i
! most unheathful and insanitary foi
; the wearer to lie in bed in his ordinary
clothing, but it is very hard on the
clothes. The simple hospital gowr
is the most convenient for the patient
to wear, for il is entirely open at the
back. but any clean, loose night dress
will be very good TO use.
When the patients bedding and
clothing are to be changed for fresh
/, clean ones great care must be taker
that he is not exposed TO cold. Many
, deaths have been caused by careless
handling of the sick instead Of by thu
/ disease. When changing the liner
the nurse will gently move the patien
to one side of the bed II the patien
is unable to move himself in the be-
two persons can easily move him
without hurting him. They stand a
= the side of the bed to which the,
wish to move the patient; one persoi
slides his arm under the patient
shoulder, the other places an arm
under his knees and both lift gently a
: the same time and pull him towar'
: them. The soiled under sheet car
then be rolled up to the patients sid
and the uncovered side Of the be-
| dressed with fresh sheet-the unus
ed half is rolled up directly by the rol
of the soiled sheet. If the patien
can move himself he should be on hi
side-and face the side Of the bed
: while the sheets are being changed an
then turn across these rolled sheet
IN tho Trash side of the he'd III M