Physical Interventions Criteria & Safety Flashcards

According to TCI, a physical intervention should only be used when:

Answer: There is an imminent risk of serious physical harm to self or others.

The use of physical restraint is a significant safety intervention. It is strictly limited to situations where the young person's behavior poses an immediate and serious risk of physical harm to themselves or others, and only when less restrictive methods have failed or are inappropriate.

Which of the following is a situation where physical intervention is NOT justified?

Answer: To enforce compliance with a routine request.

Physical interventions must never be used as a form of punishment, to enforce compliance with rules, or in response to disrespect. Using a restraint for these reasons is inappropriate, unethical, and can be dangerous.

What is positional asphyxia, and why is it a critical risk during physical restraints?

Answer: Suffocation resulting from body position that restricts breathing.

Positional asphyxia is the inability to breathe due to the body's position, especially when pressure is applied to the chest or back. It is a life-threatening risk, which is why TCI prohibits restraints that involve putting weight on a young person's chest or back.

The primary goal of a therapeutic physical intervention is to:

Answer: Ensure safety and help the young person regain control.

The sole purpose of a physical restraint in TCI is to ensure safety by containing the dangerous behavior. The goal is to help the young person regain self-control as quickly as possible so the restraint can be discontinued.

A physical restraint must be discontinued when:

Answer: The young person is no longer a safety risk and has regained control.

As soon as the young person is no longer an immediate safety risk and has regained sufficient self-control, the restraint must be ended. Prolonging a restraint beyond this point is unnecessary and can be counter-therapeutic and dangerous.

During a physical intervention, what is a critical, ongoing responsibility of the staff involved?

Answer: To continuously monitor the young person for any signs of distress.

Continuous monitoring for any signs of physical or psychological distress is paramount. This includes checking breathing, skin color, level of consciousness, and verbalizations to ensure the young person's well-being throughout the entire intervention.