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Fall prevention, safe handling and restraints
Never leave an at-risk patient alone on the table; use lifts and slide aids; a restraint needs an order, a positioning aid does not.
Who is at risk
Falls are among the most common injuries in a hospital, and an x-ray table is high and narrow. Patients at higher risk include older adults, anyone sedated or recently medicated, patients who are weak, dizzy or confused, those with poor balance or vision, and anyone who has fallen before. Many hospitals mark them with a fall-risk wristband, often yellow, and a sign on the door. Check for it and ask the nurse before you move the patient.