Stop Pressure Ulcer Day takes place globally every year, every third Thursday of November. The day is dedicated to raising awareness and disseminating knowledge about the issue of pressure ulcers/injuries.
Pressure ulcers, also known as bed sores, pressure sore or pressure injury, is an area of damaged skin and tissue. It is more likely to develop on the parts of your body which take your body weight and where the bone is closest to the skin surface. It is usually caused by sitting or lying in one position too long without moving.
Pressure ulcers are a wide issue affecting many people and comes at a great cost to the NHS. Most importantly, the cost to the patient is even greater. Pressure ulcers can cause pain, reduced mobility, social isolation, increased stay in hospitals, sepsis and even death.
By using the simple SSKINS acronym, pressure ulcers can be prevented and managed effectively.
Skin inspection
Surface
Keep moving
Incontinence
Nutrition
Self-management
This year to raise awareness, University Hospitals Monklands, Wishaw and Hairmyres will glow in red light on Thursday 16 November – Worldwide Stop Pressure Ulcer Day.
During the week beginning 13 November, NHS Lanarkshire’s tissue viability service will issue daily messages and resources to assist staff with stopping the pressure for their patients.
More information on the prevention and management of pressure ulcers is available on the tissue viability service page of FirstPort.
