A simple, yet effective way of identifying and reducing the risk of a fall for a patient is proving successful at the Ulster Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) through the introduction of a yellow blanket, that has resulted in a 30 per cent reduction in falls.
The ‘Think Yellow’ project is a visual clue to alert ED staff of a patient’s increased risk of a fall. A yellow blanket is used if the patient presenting has a history of falls, has new or increased confusion or of the family or carer have any concerns for their loved one relating to a risk of falls.
South Eastern Trust, Acute Falls Lead, Cathy Shannon explained “The yellow blanket alerts members of staff to act within their scope of practice to help prevent a fall. The blanket can be tied to the chair the patient is sitting on, or to the end of their bed or placed across their lap. It does not prevent a fall, it means if a patient has a yellow blanket beside them or if they get up to move around, then a member of staff can help them.”
Cathy shared how a 30 per cent reduction in falls is a significant improvement and stated, “To attend to someone after they have had a fall can add on average around two hours of additional work for staff in the Department. By carrying out that risk assessment of the patient at triage, we are saving staff time to allow for them to carry out their duties.”
“By helping prevent these falls we are improving patient outcomes and ultimately improving the patient’s journey which has a knock on effect to pressures in the entire system.
Emergency Department, Deputy Sister, Alison Harris commented, “The Think Yellow initiative is a really good idea from a patient triage perspective. When the patient comes through the door, we can ask questions to assess if the patient is at risk of falls. By using the yellow blanket, staff can realise that the patient is at risk of a fall and if they notice the person trying to get up, we can offer extra help.”
Cathy added, “Through the successful implementation of this initiative, we hope to be able to roll this out across the South Eastern Trust by Spring 2026.”