ALL ASPECTS RELATED TO THE TOPIC

1. COMFORT
DEVICES
Prepared by,
Ms. Aswathy O
Lecturer
KIMS CON

2. DEFINITION
 COMFORT :-
The absence of irritating stimuli that distracts ones
attention from the task of hand.
 Comfort devices :-
These are the mechanical devices planned to
provide optimal comfort to an individual

3. TYPES OF COMFORT DEVICES
 Pillows
 Back rest
 Bed cradle
 Cardiac table
 Mattress
 Trapeze bar
 Foot board
 Trochanter rolls
 Sand bags
 Side rails
 Wedge/ abductor pillow

4. CONT…..
 Knee rest
 Bed blocks
 Air cushions
 Rubber / cotton rings
 Hand rolls
 Walkers
 Crutches

5. PILLOWS
 It is used to give comfortable positions to the
patients

6. PURPOSE
 Used for support to maintain correct body alignment
 Used under head, arms, legs, and along spine or
abdomen to provide comfort
 Helps to reduce pressure

7. BACK REST
 Mechanical device which provides a suitable
support and rest for the back of the patient in sitting
position
 Support patients back at an angle may maintain
sitting position
 It can be adjusted to desired angle
 Extra pillows are needed
 Arms of patient are well supported
 Used for patients with cardiac and pulmonary
distress

8. PURPOSE
 To relieve dyspnoea
 To promote drainage from abdominal cavity
 To provide comfortable change of position

9. BED CRADLE
 It is a frame used to hold the bed linen from
touching the patient
 Cradle is a semicircular/ rectangular frame of metal
or electronics
 It may be made of wood or bamboo

10. PURPOSE
 To prevent pressure from the weight of linen
 To allow air to circulate around lower limb
 To prevent the top cloth if coming in contact with the
patient especially burns patient
 To apply heat in case of drying plaster of casts
 Electronic bed cradles are used to supply the
desired warm in case of shock

11. CARDIAC TABLE
 Cardiac table/ Orthopneic/ Bed table
 Usually for patients who are propped up in a sitting
position for change of position
 Bed table placed infront with a pillow on it patient
can lean forward and take rest
 Table without pillow is used for writing and meals

12. CONT…
 Used for patients with cardiac and asthma
 Makes it possible to use accesory muscles of
respiration
 Position should be changed to relieve fatigue and
prevent embolism

13. MATTRESSES
 1. air mattresses
 2. water mattresses
 Used for very thin and obese patients and those
who are prone to get pressure sore
 It helps in equal distribution of the pressure exerted
on the body

15. PURPOSE
 To improve circulation
 To provide comfort
 To prevent pressure sore
 Used in very thin and obese patients and chronic
bed ridden patients

16. TRAPEZE BAR
 It is suspended from an overhead frame to head of
bed
 PURPOSE:-
 Patient can grasp the bar to
Raise the trunk off the bed surface
Or to move up in bed

18. FOOT BOARD
 Device that is placed towards the foot of patients
bed to serve as support for his feet. It is made up
ofd wood / plastic/ heavy canvas
 PURPOSE:-
 To maintain normal position of feet
 To promote comfort
 To prevent foot drop

19. TROCHANTER ROLL
 A cotton bath blanket/ sheet is folded length wise to
width extending from greater trochanter of of femur
to lower border of popliteal space
 PURPOSE:-
 Prevent external rotation of legs when patient is in
supine position

20. SAND BAGS
 These are canvas rubber or plastic bags filled with
sand.
 It is used to immobilise a part
PURPOSE:-
 To relieve discomfort
 Used to support body part
 Used to immobilise the body part

21. SIDE RAILS
 These are bars positioned along the sides of the
length of the bed
 Ensure patients safety and are useful for increasing
immobility
 Provide assistance in rolling from side to side or
sitting up in bed

22.  Used to support as in fracture bones
 To prevent foot drop or wrist drop
 To immobilise extremities and maintain specific
body allignments

23. WEDGE /ABDUCTOR PILLOW
 It is a triangular shaped pillow made of heavy foam
PURPOSE:-
 Used to maintain legs in abduction following total
hip replacement surgery

25. KNEE REST
 It may be substituted by a pillow
 It is a device placed under the knees to provide
comfort
PURPOSE:-
 It gives relaxation and thus relieve the pain on
tendons beneath the knees
 Doctors do not allow knee pillows because of the
fear of thrombus formation and pulmonary
embolism

26. BED BLOCKS
 It is made up of wood or metal
 It may be high or low
 These are placed under the foot of the bed for
various reasons .

27. PURPOSE:-
 To prevent shock
 To arrest hemmorrhage
 To retain enema
 After spinal anesthesia
 After tonsillectomy
 To provide traction
 To position in postural drainage

28. AIR CUSHION
 They are round in shape and made of rubber
 These can be inflated with air
 These are used to take off the weight of the body
 It should not be applied directly in contact with skin
 They should have cover

29. PURPOSE
 To relieve pressure on certain parts of body
 To promote comfort of client

30. RUBBER AND COTTON RINGS
 These are circular rings made of rubber or cotton
PURPOSE:-
 Used to relieve pressure on certain parts of the
body like elbows and heels

31. HAND ROLLS
 Made by folding wash cloth in half , rolling in
lengthwise and securing roll with tape
 Roll is placed against palmar surface of hand
PURPOSE:-
 Maintain thumb in slightly adducted and in
opposition to fingers
 Maintain fingers in slightly flexed position