Mechanical Restraint. Mechanical restraint means any device attached or adjacent to an individual’s body that he or she cannot easily remove that restricts freedom of movement or normal access to his or her body. The term does not include any device used to achieve functional body position or proper balance or to prevent injury due to involuntary movement.
Mechanical Restraint. Any device attached or adjacent to the member’s body that cannot be easily removed and that restricts freedom of movement or normal access to the body.
Mechanical Restraint. Definition: The use of special furniture, clothing or devices to prevent a person from moving his/her body or from leaving a defined place/space, i.e. special chairs with fixed trays, commodes, straps, belts, gloves, cot sides, secure sleeping bag and straitjackets. Mechanical restraint should never be used solely to reduce restlessness. In such cases, the adult should have a physical examination and his/her medication should be reviewed. If possible, mechanical restraint should not be applied until less restrictive and then if necessary manual means have been tried. In all cases, the following alternatives should be considered before such restraint is used: Increase supervised exercise time (this may also improve mobility and reduce the risk of falling); Reorganise and if possible increase the number of staff involved in observation and supervision tasks; Change the pattern of rest periods in bed; Provide seated activities, which occupy the attention of the individual or group; Make imaginative use of diversional or occupational therapy; Use special environments if available (e.g. Snoezelen rooms). Attention should be paid to environmental factors such as temperature, noise level, lighting, overcrowding, ease of observation and the restrictive or oppressive use of space and doors. If chairs are used which restrict the adult's movement, they should be comfortable, individually fitted to the adult's requirements and provide a certain degree of freedom of movement. They should not be used indiscriminately or as a means of seclusion. Under no circumstances should the adult (or his/her limbs) be tied to a chair or put in a straitjacket. If cot sides are used as a means of restraint, attention should be paid to the possibility that the adult may try to get out of bed and injure him/herself in the process. An alternative approach would be to put a mattress on the floor, provided that this could be done in a way that would not be demeaning to the adult. Physical restraint Definition: The actual or threatened laying of hands on a person to prevent him/her from embarking on a movement or following it through. Staff and carers should be trained in how to physically handle adults in this way, as incorrect use of this means of restraint could cause injury. It could also be interpreted as an attack and provoke a reaction of fear, perhaps further exacerbating the situation. Locking doors Adults should not be confined to one room by means of a locked door or any other me...
