DHS 50.12(3)(b)(b) Seclusion and physical restraint shall be administered for the shortest time possible and only until the youth is no longer a danger to self or others.
DHS 50.12(3)(c)(c) Seclusion and physical restraint shall be administered in a manner that is attentive to, and respectful of, the trauma history, dignity, and civil rights of the youth.
DHS 50.12(3)(d)(d) Seclusion and physical restraint shall be administered in a manner that avoids or causes the least possible physical or emotional discomfort, harm, and pain to the youth.
DHS 50.12(3)(e)(e) Regular access to bathroom facilities, drinking water, and necessary medication shall be provided according to the youth’s needs during the administration of seclusion or physical restraint. Temperature and lights shall be maintained at levels which are comfortable to the youth.
DHS 50.12(4)(4)Specific requirements for seclusion. A YCSF that opts to seclude youths in the event of an emergency or imminent threat of injury or death to the youth or another person at the YCSF shall do all of the following:
DHS 50.12(4)(a)(a) Program staff members shall provide uninterrupted supervision and monitoring of the youth and the entire seclusion area during seclusion by being in the room with the youth or by observation through a window into the room.
DHS 50.12(4)(b)(b) A YCSF shall maintain an incident log to document the use of seclusion. The log shall include the time when the seclusion began, the youth’s behaviors and staff member’s responses to those behaviors every 5 minutes, and the time seclusion ended.
DHS 50.12(4)(c)(c) Seclusion rooms shall be free of objects or fixtures with which the youth could inflict bodily harm.
DHS 50.12(4)(d)(d) Only one youth at a time may be placed in a seclusion room.
DHS 50.12(4)(e)(e) A youth may only be kept in the seclusion area by means of one of the following:
DHS 50.12(4)(e)1.1. A staff member is in a position, such as in a doorway, to prevent a youth from leaving the seclusion area.
DHS 50.12(4)(e)2.2. A door to a seclusion room is latched by positive pressure applied by a staff member’s hand without which the latch would spring back allowing the door to open on its own accord, or a program may use a magnetic door lock or a lock which requires the turn of a knob to unlock a door. Other designs of door locks shall not be used, including pad lock, key lock, or other locks of similar design.
DHS 50.12(5)(5)Specific requirements for physical restraint.
DHS 50.12(5)(a)(a) Physical restraint shall only be administered to a youth during an emergency, when there is a serious threat of violence to other youth or a staff member, personal injury, or attempted suicide.
DHS 50.12(5)(b)(b) At a minimum, 2 staff members trained in the use of emergency safety interventions shall be physically present during the administration of physical restraint, and shall continually monitor the condition of the youth and the safe use of physical restraint throughout the duration of the intervention.
DHS 50.12(5)(c)(c) All of the following are prohibited forms of physical restraint:
DHS 50.12(5)(c)1.1. Pressure or weight on the chest, lungs, sternum, diaphragm, back, or abdomen, such as straddling or sitting on the torso.
DHS 50.12(5)(c)2.2. Pressure, weight, or leverage on the neck or throat, on any artery, or on the back of the head or neck, or that otherwise obstructs or restricts the circulation of blood or obstructs an airway, such as choke holds or sleeper holds.
DHS 50.12(5)(c)3.3. Wrestling holds or martial arts techniques.
DHS 50.12(5)(c)4.4. Covering the face with any object, such as a pillow, towel, washcloth, blanket, or other fabric.
DHS 50.12(5)(c)5.5. Pain or pressure points.
DHS 50.12(5)(c)6.6. Hyperextension of limbs, fingers, or neck.
DHS 50.12(5)(c)7.7. Forcible take downs from a standing position to the floor.
DHS 50.12(5)(c)8.8. Restraint in a prone position.
DHS 50.12(5)(c)9.9. Restraint in a supine position.
DHS 50.12(5)(c)10.10. Restraint in a vertical position, with upper body pressed against a wall or hard surface.
DHS 50.12(5)(c)11.11. Any other physical restraint that is not administered during an emergency, that is administered for longer than necessary to prevent immediate injury to a youth or others, or that is administered for a purpose other than to prevent immediate injury to a youth or others.
DHS 50.12(5)(d)(d) Immediately, upon the termination of a physical restraint, a medical staff member, such as a physician, advanced practice nurse prescriber, physician assistant, or registered nurse shall conduct a follow-up assessment of the condition of the youth to ensure that the youth was not injured and shall document the finding of the assessment in the youth’s clinical record. If a staff member who is a physician or nurse is not present on site, a licensed treatment professional shall conduct the in-person assessment immediately upon termination of the physical restraint and notify a medical staff consultant.
DHS 50.12(5)(e)(e) If any injury is noted following a physical restraint, a staff member shall notify the youth’s legal representative and make a referral for medical care.