Ministry of Health advises
PRONING AT HOME
for COVID-19 patients with breathing troubles
WHAT IS PRONING?
The process of turning yourself/a patient with precise, safe motions from back to your/their abdomen (stomach), so you/they are lying with your/their face down.
Proning is a medically accepted position to improve comfort and oxygenation and is extremely beneficial in COVID-19 patients with compromised breathing comfort.
IMPORTANCE OF PRONE LYING
Regular monitoring is important at home as compromised oxygen circulation can lead to worsening complications.
Proning improves ventilation, keeps alveolar units open, and breathing easy.
If the oxygen saturation (SpO2) drops below 94, timely proning and maintaining good ventilation can save many lives.
WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR PRONING?
You will need 4-5 pillows- 1 pillow below the neck, 1-2 pillows below the chest through upper thighs, and 2 pillows below the shins.
Change your lying position regularly. The best is to not spend more than 30 minutes in each position.
HOW TO DO SELF-PRONING?
Position 1:
 |
| for COVID-19 patients with breathing troubles |
You will need 4-5 pillows- 1 pillow below the neck, 1-2 pillows below the chest through upper thighs, and 2 pillows below the shins.
30 minutes- 2 hours: laying on your belly
Position 2:
Position 3:
30 minutes- 2 hours: sitting up
Position 4:
30 minutes- 2 hours: lying on your left side
Position 5:
Back to position 1
WHEN NOT TO DO PRONING?
Proning should be avoided in the following conditions
- Pregnancy
- Deep venous thrombosis (Treated in less than 48 hours)
- Major cardiac conditions.
- Unstable spine, femur, or pelvic fractures.
A WORD OF CAUTION
- Avoid proning for an hour after meals
- Maintain proning for only as many times as easily tolerable
- Pillows may be adjusted slightly to alter
- pressure areas and comfort
- Keep a track of any pressure sores or injuries
- You may prone for up to 16 hours a day, in multiple cycles, as felt comfortable
HOW TO PLACE A PATIENT IN PRONE POSITION
- Pull the patient to one side of the bed using a flat sheet
- Place the flat sheet around the arm that will pull through the side you are turning toward
- Place a second flat sheet on the bed tucked under the patient. This sheet will pull through as you are turning the patient Using the sheet, turn the patient over in a prone position. The arm and sheet will pull across the bed
- Pull and center the patient. Discard the sheet that was used to place the patient in the supine position. Straighten lines and tubes.
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