Osmosis video - Restraints

Restraints refer to devices or methods used to physically restrict the movement of a person. They are used to restrict a client's freedom of movement or to prevent them from accessing certain parts of their body, and they are sometimes needed to keep patients as well as people around them safe. Restraints are of two types: physical and chemical.

Physical restraints are devices attached to or near a client's body that cannot be easily removed, such as attachments to chairs, side rails on a bed, or even tightly tucked sheets. Additionally, restricting access to other rooms or areas of a facility is also considered a type of physical restraint. On the other hand, chemical restraints include medications, like sedatives and tranquilizers, that are not a part of the standard treatment for a medical or psychological condition.

Laws, standards, and guidelines regulating the use of restraints require that restraints are used only as a last resort and that the minimum effective restraint must be used for the shortest period possible. It's important to not only take great care when working with restrained clients, but also to seek and exhaust all alternatives to restraints before resorting to their use.