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Health and Safety Guidelines

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Updated Respiratory Illness Guidance Available
DDS has released updated information for the 2025–2026 respiratory illness season, including recommendations for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV vaccination. Download: Respiratory Illness: Stay Healthy (PDF)

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DDS Health Care Record Guidance

Open PDF file, 181.08 KB,  Health Care Record Guidance April 2025 (English, PDF 181.08 KB)

Risk Management

Open DOCX file, 63.78 KB,  Health Related Supports and Protective Equipment Authorization Form July 2025 (English, DOCX 63.78 KB)
Open RTF file, 1.75 MB,  Risk Management Policy and Procedures Manual 2012 (English, RTF 1.75 MB)
Open RTF file, 48 KB,  CPAP Protocol (English, RTF 48 KB)
Open RTF file, 285.16 KB,  Bed Bugs (English, RTF 285.16 KB)
Open DOC file, 358 KB,  Bed Rail Entrapment (English, DOC 358 KB)
Open RTF file, 71.81 KB,  Case Status (English, RTF 71.81 KB)
Open RTF file, 70.61 KB,  Domestic Violence Protocol (English, RTF 70.61 KB)
Open RTF file, 116.75 KB,  Fire Safety (English, RTF 116.75 KB)
Open RTF file, 45 KB,  Head Hitting Protocol (English, RTF 45 KB)
Open RTF file, 53.62 KB,  Hoarding (English, RTF 53.62 KB)
Open PDF file, 177.07 KB,  Missing Person Protocol 2019 (English, PDF 177.07 KB)
Open RTF file, 47.87 KB,  No Response to Efforts to Contact (English, RTF 47.87 KB)
Open PDF file, 10.78 KB,  PICA Management Plan Guidelines (English, PDF 10.78 KB)
Open RTF file, 53.57 KB,  Substance Abuse Protocol (English, RTF 53.57 KB)
Open RTF file, 47 KB,  Treadmill Safety (English, RTF 47 KB)
Open RTF file, 58 KB,  Water Safety (English, RTF 58 KB)
Open PDF file, 509.96 KB,  Dysphagia and Aspiration Fact Sheet May 2025 (English, PDF 509.96 KB)
Open PDF file, 175.45 KB,  Overview dysphagia choking and aspiration March 2025 (English, PDF 175.45 KB)

Guidelines and Fact Sheets for Recognizing and Managing Health-Related Concerns

Open PDF file, 331.63 KB,  Health Observation Guide (English, PDF 331.63 KB)
Open PDF file, 323.04 KB,  Sleep Apnea (English, PDF 323.04 KB)
Open PDF file, 261.1 KB,  Sepsis (English, PDF 261.1 KB)
Open PDF file, 341.23 KB,  Seizures (English, PDF 341.23 KB)
Open PDF file, 324.09 KB,  Pressure Ulcers (English, PDF 324.09 KB)
Open PDF file, 327.27 KB,  Pica (English, PDF 327.27 KB)
Open PDF file, 352.57 KB,  Osteoporosis (English, PDF 352.57 KB)
Open PDF file, 268.08 KB,  Just Not Right (English, PDF 268.08 KB)
Open PDF file, 337.06 KB,  Falls (English, PDF 337.06 KB)
Open PDF file, 329.69 KB,  Diarrhea (English, PDF 329.69 KB)
Open PDF file, 330.71 KB,  Dehydration (English, PDF 330.71 KB)
Open PDF file, 329.89 KB,  Constipation (English, PDF 329.89 KB)
Open PDF file, 268.92 KB,  C. Diff (English, PDF 268.92 KB)
Open PDF file, 269.09 KB,  Bowel Obstruction (English, PDF 269.09 KB)
Open PDF file, 447.35 KB,  Antibiotic Resistance (English, PDF 447.35 KB)
Open PDF file, 270.47 KB,  Allergic Reactions (English, PDF 270.47 KB)
Open PDF file, 496.19 KB,  Tick-borne Disease Prevention 2025 (English, PDF 496.19 KB)
Open DOCX file, 50.53 KB,  Opioid Withdrawal Fact Sheet (English, DOCX 50.53 KB)
Open PDF file, 280.7 KB,  Respiratory Virus Spread Guidance October 2025 (English, PDF 280.7 KB)
Open PDF file, 110.95 KB,  DDS Statement on Non-Prescription Devices Outside of the Scope of 115 CMR 5.12 (English, PDF 110.95 KB)

CPAP/BiPAP Use

Open DOC file, 37 KB,  BiPAP SP device cleaning (English, DOC 37 KB)
Open DOCX file, 15.05 KB,  Blank CPAP Supply replacement schedule (English, DOCX 15.05 KB)
Open DOC file, 37 KB,  CPAP SP device cleaning (English, DOC 37 KB)
Open DOCX file, 15.31 KB,  CPAP Supply replacement schedule (English, DOCX 15.31 KB)

Living Well

Living Well Articles and Information Sheets 

Living Well is a page that contains articles from the former DDS Living Well publication. These simple articles are meant to inform and remind families and staff of common health and safety concerns related to seasonal and common health and safety issues .

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