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2SkillAdmin
Pressure Injury Prevention and Treatment: Essential Skills for Support Workers
Protecting Skin Integrity in Disability and Aged Care
Pressure injuries—also known as pressure sores or bedsores—are a serious and preventable health issue for people with limited mobility, chronic illness, disability, or ageing-related conditions. For support workers, understanding pressure injury prevention and treatment is critical to maintaining participant comfort, dignity, and overall health.
When untreated, pressure injuries can lead to infections, pain, reduced mobility, hospitalisation, and in severe cases, life-threatening complications. With proper knowledge and training, support workers can significantly reduce these risks.
What Are Pressure Injuries?
Pressure injuries occur when sustained pressure, friction, or shear damages the skin and underlying tissue. They typically appear on bony areas such as:
Heels
Hips
Tailbone
Elbows
Ankles
People who are immobile, use wheelchairs, have poor nutrition, or live with chronic illness are at higher risk.
Early Warning Signs to Watch For
Support workers should check the skin daily for signs such as:
Persistent redness
Swelling or warmth
Discolouration
Blistering or open wounds
Pain or discomfort when touched
Hard or soft tissue changes
Early detection is the key to preventing more serious stages of injury.
How Support Workers Can Prevent Pressure Injuries
Prevention is far easier—and safer—than treatment. Key strategies include:
1. Regular Repositioning
Turning or repositioning participants at recommended intervals reduces pressure on vulnerable areas. For wheelchair users, pressure relief should be encouraged every 15–30 minutes.
2. Using Supportive Devices
Pressure-relieving cushions, foam mattresses, heel protectors, and positioning tools help reduce friction and pressure points.
3. Skin Care and Hygiene
Keeping the skin clean, dry, and moisturised helps maintain integrity. Support workers should report any changes immediately.
4. Nutrition and Hydration
Good diet and hydration support skin healing and resilience.
5. Mobility Support
Encouraging movement, even small shifts, promotes blood flow and reduces risk.
Treatment Basics for Support Workers
While treatment is generally guided by clinical professionals, support workers play an essential role in:
Following wound management instructions
Maintaining hygiene and dressing requirements
Monitoring for signs of infection
Supporting comfort and reducing pressure on affected areas
Documenting and reporting changes
Pressure injuries require coordinated support from the healthcare team, participant, and support worker.
Why Pressure Injury Knowledge Matters
Pressure injuries are classified as preventable harm under aged care and disability standards. This means poor prevention or delayed reporting can result in:
Participant discomfort and long-term health issues
Compliance breaches
Increased care costs
Safety incidents
Loss of trust in care services
Support workers with proper training are essential in reducing these risks.
Linking to Other Compliance Skills
Pressure injury prevention is closely connected to other essential clinical and compliance skills, including:
Manual Handling — safe repositioning reduces friction and shear
Infection Prevention & Control — crucial for wound care and hygiene
Complex Wound Management — understanding how wounds develop and heal
Reportable Incident Awareness — knowing when a pressure injury must be documented and escalated
Support workers can strengthen their overall capability by completing aligned training modules available on 2Skill.
Advance Your Skills With 2Skill’s 14-Day Free Trial
2Skill offers practical, easy-to-follow online courses to help support workers confidently provide safe, high-quality care. With the 14-day free trial, you can start building your pressure injury prevention knowledge and complete additional clinical and compliance skills without upfront cost.
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