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Internist Exposes Real Threat to the Handicapped and Immobilized - Bed Sores
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Added: 09/23/2005
Type: Summary
Viewed: 892 time(s)
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Internist Exposes Real Threat to the Handicapped and Immobilized - Bed Sores
After "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve died from complications due to a bed sore, experienced Internist and infectious disease specialist Irene Grant, MD bemoans how uninformed the public is about the real and frightfully common threat bed sores present. Few know that bed sores only take two hours to develop, and can rapidly lead to one of the most painful, degrading and humiliating ways to die. Too often associated only with the elderly or hospitalized, bed sores pose a threat to anyone facing bed rest, immobilization or handicap at any age.
Bedsores are only reported if they occur within a medical institution. The rate occurring in the community is estimated to be enormous. Who today has available a home helper to turn them every 2 hours? Who can afford one? What about the sandwich generation and the baby boomer geriatric avalanche?
The prevention and care of decubitus ulcers includes promotion of circulation, wound care and nutrition. Severe bed sores can take months to heal, requiring antibiotics, and surgery.
Dr. Grant explains, "Prevention should be implemented before a nurse or an ambulance are needed. The public needs to be educated on the risks and signs of bedsores, so these tragedies can be totally avoided. Forget anti-aging medicine; once you have a bed sore starting, you're on the 911 conveyor belt to hospitalization, nursing home, potential bankruptcy, etc."
She explains. "Anyone at any age facing immobilization, weakness or extended bed rest should be educated on recognizing risks and simple available solutions. Affordable, patented, continually massaging bed overlays work synergistically with proper nutrition and skin care. These overlays have proven to prevent as well as treat pressure sores in hospice patients without round the clock nursing."
Unfortunately, this technology is rarely used, even in hospital and nursing home settings, leaving the movement of the infirm solely to the manual labor provided by the nursing staff, or expensive flotation mattresses. In a case as extreme as Christopher Reeve's, an extra caretaker break, tardy nurse, hole in the nursing schedule, or bread-winning sandwicher without home help for their injured beloved, can start a down hill progression into complications that rapidly lead to death.
Dr. Grant advises training everyone in First Aid basics to prevent these avoidable sufferings. She adds, "There are easy and affordable care alternatives available to protect yourself and your loved ones from bed sores. Bed sores do not only affect the elderly or hospitalized; anyone who is immobile, whether due to age, weakness, accident or handicap, is at risk. These stories do not have to end in tragedy."
Most bed sores are completely avoidable, and represent medical failure. Yet the first aid step should be applied at home…..like the "ace bandage".
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