Welcome to All Sensors “Put the Pressure on Us” blog. This blog brings out pressure sensor aspects in a variety of applications inspired by headlines, consumer and industry requirements, market research, government activities, and you.
Pressure Injury Prevention Day
Since 2013, the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) has striven to increase national awareness to prevent pressure ulcers. An event previously titled the World Wide Pressure Ulcer Prevention Day is now the World Wide Pressure Injury Prevention Day. This year, the World Wide Pressure Injury Prevention Day will be celebrated on November 16, 2017.
Pressure ulcer injuries or bed sores occur due to bed-ridden and comatose patients lying in the same position for an extended period of time. Sensing the patient’s movement or pressure distribution change is among the techniques that can alert caregivers to assist the patient’s movement and avoid pressure ulcers.
The NPUAP redefined the definition of pressure injuries during the NPUAP 2016 Staging Consensus Conference held April 8-9, 2016 in Rosemont (Chicago), IL.
“A pressure injury is localized damage to the skin and underlying soft tissue usually over a bony prominence or related to a medical or other device. The injury can present as intact skin or an open ulcer and may be painful. The injury occurs as a result of intense and/or prolonged pressure or pressure in combination with shear.”
The stages of a pressure injury are:
- Stage 1 Pressure Injury: Non-blanchable erythema of intact skin
- Stage 2 Pressure Injury: Partial-thickness skin loss with exposed dermis
- Stage 3 Pressure Injury: Full-thickness skin loss
- Stage 4 Pressure Injury: Full-thickness skin and tissue loss
Pressure injuries also result from the use of medical devices designed and applied for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
Comments/Questions?
Do you have a pressure sensing question? Let us know and we’ll address it in an upcoming blog.
Email us at [email protected]