GUIDELINES FOR
FOAM MATTRESSES
TURNING, INSPECTION AND CLEANING
Author: Lynne Hepworth
Lead Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist
Issue Date: November 2014
Review Date November 2016
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FOAM MATTRESS USE AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS
1.0 Purpose
1.2 To extend the life of the mattress and ensure pressure relieving quality and add to patient
comfort, the mattress should be turned regularly.
2.0 Personal Responsibilities
2.1 Determine whether the mattress in use requires turning or has been specifically manufactured
not to require this – See manufacturer’s instructions.
2.2 It is the responsibility of the unit manager to determine the turning requirement of each
mattress, as per the Manufacturer’s instructions, and to label them appropriately. To differentiate
the following can be used as a guide, 4 way turn mattresses usually, look the same on both sides,
having the same material on both sides, 2 way turn mattresses usually have a different coloured
base material, no turn mattresses, usually have a different coloured base material and screen
printed feet at the foot end of the mattress.
2.3 Most mattresses in use within the trust will require turning, whilst all zipped mattresses require
regular inspection to ensure that the integrity has not been breached. The following instructions
must be adhered to for zipped mattresses and all mattresses that require turning.
2.4 Ward managers to action any condemn/ problem mattresses immediately, also to check that
monthly sheets have been completed.
2.5 All mattresses that require turning should be turned monthly.
2.6 All mattresses should also be inspected monthly for damage to the cover or underlying foam
(See use and care instructions for details)
2.7 Mattresses requiring 4 way turn
Month labels – mattresses should be labelled with permanent marker as below.
Diagram showing examples of mattress turning
(Month 2)
(Month 4)
Feb, June, Oct
April, Aug, Dec
Top Facing
Reverse Side
(MONTH 1)
(MONTH 3)
Jan, May, Sept
March, July, Nov
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At each turn the current month should be displayed at the head of the bed.
Should the foam mattress or inside the cover become contaminated, it should be condemned and
replaced following appropriate local policies or guidelines. Contact your tissue viability nurses,
infection prevention and control specialist nurse or other appropriate health professional for
assistance or advice. Avoid puncturing the cover and replace if breached to prevent soiling of foam.
2.8 Mattresses Requiring 2 Way Turn
Label the mattress as below if not already screen printed.
Jan, March, May, July, Sept, Nov
Top Facing
Feb, April, June, August, Oct,
Dec
At each turn the current month should be displaced at the head of the bed. Should the foam
mattress or inside the cover become contaminated, it should be condemned and replaced following
appropriate local policies or guidelines. Contact your tissue viability nurses, infection prevention and
control specialist nurse or other appropriate health professional for assistance or advice. Avoid
puncturing the cover and replace if breached to prevent soiling of foam.
2.7 No Turn Mattress
Inspect the foam of the mattress and cover monthly. Should the foam mattress or inside the cover
become contaminated, it should be condemned and replaced following appropriate local policies or
guidelines. Contact your tissue viability nurses, infection prevention and control specialist nurse or
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other appropriate health professional for assistance or advice. Avoid puncturing the cover and
replace if breached to prevent soiling of foam.
3.0 Mattress Cover Cleaning
If contaminated with body fluids, wipe with Chlor clean solution diluted to 1,000 ppm using a
disposable cloth and then wash down with hot water and detergent, dry thoroughly before use. Do
not use alcohol wipes as this will damage the cover
If contaminated with body fluids and the patient is known to have a blood borne virus or on the
advice of infection prevention and control specialist nurses, wipe with Chlor clean 10,000 ppm, then
wash with hot water and detergent, dry thoroughly and use a blood spillage kit if appropriate. Do
not use alcohol wipes as this will damage the cover.
PLEASE REFER TO MATTRESS TESTING PROCEDURES BELOW
4. Mattress Test Protocol
Cover
Rationale
1. Is the cover intact including zip areas?
Foam could be contaminated with body fluids
2. Is there staining, or indentation of the cover?
Staining would indicate changing the cover, but
also check foam for staining
Mattress (with mattress at the height of the assessor hip)
1. Is the mattress at least 5” (13 cm) deep, and Mattress should be at least 5” deep. If damaged
has no damage?
replace
2. Can contact with the bed base be felt at any To ensure pressure relieving qualities of the
stage during the following procedures:
mattress is effective, if not replace.
•
Interlock fingers and make a fist
•
Place fist over the mid line of the
mattress 30 cm from food end.
•
Keep arms straight, lean forward and
apply body weight through fists. (do not bounce
on the mattress)
•
If contact is felt with the bed base, stop
evaluation and mark the bed with a cross in
indelible ink, then remove from service at the
earliest opportunity.
•
If bed base contact is not made,
continue compression through the mid line of
the mattress at 30 cm intervals (approximately)
•
If mid line is satisfactory, check the
edges at points A to F for damage occurring as a
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result of the patient edge sitting. (see diagram.
FOOT OF MATTRESS
Mid-line
HEAD OF MATTRESS
D E F
30 cm intervals
X
x
x
x
x
x
Mid-line
ABC
X
X
X
INTERNAL INSPECTION OF THE MATTRESS
Finally, open zip and visually inspect the foam for signs of contamination (for dampness test with
gloved hand and paper towel), if positive, remove from the mattress from service and replace.
Foams go “Yellow” over time and in isolation, is not an indication of contamination but a character
of ageing.
STAINING
Any staining of the foam of the mattress indicates contamination therefore remove it from service
and replace.
PATIENT DISCHARGE
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When the patient is discharged, clean the mattress as detailed in 3.0. Unzip the cover and inspect
the foam for any staining/contamination. If contaminated condemn the mattress and replace from
the store. If clean, tag the mattress as “cleaned and inspected”.
DOCUMENTATION
Record outcomes on the mattress turning inspection sheet each month. Sign to confirm completed.
AUDIT CHECK
Ward manager to check the mattress care and inspection sheets each month to ensure all
mattresses are being inspected. Finally ward manager to sign off the sheet each month
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