Preventing Pressure Injuries What is a pressure injury? A pressure injury (also called a bed sore, or ulcer) is a painful wound which affects your skin and the tissue underneath. Pressure injuries can happen quickly and are caused by constant, unrelieved pressure or shear forces on any part of your body. If you sit or lay down in the same position for an extended period of time, you are at risk of developing a pressure injury. Pressure injuries can be painful, take a long time to heal and may lead to other complications.
Who is at risk?
What to look for?
Any person at any age could be at risk of
A pressure injury may cause changes in the:
developing a pressure injury. However there are some factors which can increase your risk of developing a pressure injury, such as: y Limited mobility y Urinary or faecal incontinence y Poor circulation and/or sensation y Being over or under weight y History of a previous pressure injury
y Colour of your skin – it may look red, purple or blue y Temperature of your skin – it may feel hotter or colder than the surrounding skin y Appearance of your skin – it may be broken, blistered, swollen, have calluses, shiny areas or dry patches y Sensation of your skin – there may be tenderness, itching or pain over affected areas