The Invalid's Bed

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 71, 25 March 1933, Page 21

The Invalid's Bed

SPECIAL BEDDING.

Nothing is more important to the invalid / than the comfort of her bed (writes a woman doctor in the "Manchester Guardian"). The first and foremost essential when nursing an invalid is to be able to make and arrange the sick-bed. When nursing is done at liome it is not always possible to obtain the perfect sick-room, light and airy and situated away from any noise and disturbance in the house, but it is possible, in tho majority of cases, to obtain the maximum degree of comfort for the sick-bed itself. '

It is advisable for tho air to circulate freely round the invalid's bed. The ideal situation for this condition is to have the bed between the door and the fireplace. If this is not possible, the bed should be placed between the fireplace and the window. It should never be placed against a wall if possible. The foot Of the bed should be away from the window so that the light does noteonie straight on to tho face of the patient. A narrow bed is more practicable than a wide one for nursing purposes, as it saves the invalid and her attendant much fatigue. A wide bed gives extra trouble, as every attention, snob as raising the invalid's head pr rearranging the pillows, is-clone either at arm's length or leaning or kneeling uu the bod. .

The bedding for a sick-bed consists of three portions—the part on which the patient lies, the portion covering the patient, and the part supporting her. The underneath portion should consist of an under blanket a macintosh sheet, an under sheet, and a draw sheet. The under blanket (which can be omitted in sunmipv) should be tucked in all round. The under sheet is put on as in an ordinary bed. The draw sheet, which goes across the middle of the bed, can usually bo made from an old sheet. It should be about three feet wide, and can be tucked in.under the mattress. In serious cases, where the patient has to be moved as little as possible, the draw sheet should be.pinned to the mattress. The portion of the bedding covering the patient should consist of a shoot and two or three blankets. The blankets should be as light and warm as possible. ■ ' ,

The bedding supporting the patient is •inessential part of her comfort. The bolster should have a separate cover so that the under sheot can be changed easily. The number of pijlows depends on whether^thc patient is sitting up or is in. a reciimbent position. In either case a spare pillow should be kept close, at hand to suppgrt the.back and raise the head if necessary and, what is more important, to replace a hot pillow. BED-EEST. A bed-rest adds greatly to the comfort of a patient who is sitting up. It should bo well padded so as to fit ngainst all parts of the patient's back. A bed-rest can be easily improvised from a chair. The chair-back supports the patient and the front legs of the chair, are fastened securely to the top of the bod. Another way of making a bodrest is to stuff a wedge-shaped pillow ■tightly with straw and placo a soft pillow over it.

The making of an invalid's bed is an important part of the care of a patient, as much discomfort can be caused by unneqessary moving. To remove the under sheet, rollthe patient gently on to one side. Loosen the sheet and roll it up lengthways untilhalf of it forms a roll against the patient's back. Make ■* roll with the clean sheet and placo it against1 the other one at the patient's back. The bed is then onehalf covered by clean and soiled sheets, the other halves of the sheets forming rolls running clown the middle of the bed.

The patient is lying near the middle on tho soiled sheet. She is then rolled over tho two rolls pn to tho. clean sheet. The soiled sheet is then removed and therolleS half of the clean sheet unrolled and tucked in.

To replace the upper sheet it is best to remove all but the sheet and one blanket. The blanket should be kept in place with the right hand and with the left hand the sheet can be drawn down underneath tho blanket. The fresh sheet and blanket should then be put on top of the blanket covering the patient and this blanket removed in the same way as tho sheet was removed.