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Health and Safety Guidelines

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Updated Respiratory Illness Guidance Available
DDS has released updated information for the 2026–2027 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

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

Fall Prevention Resources

Pre-Falls Risk Checklist PDF, Open PDF file, 222.11 KB (English, PDF 222.11 KB)
Pre-Falls Risk Checklist, Open DOCX file, 42.55 KB (English, DOCX 42.55 KB)
Post-Fall Assessment Instructions, Open DOCX file, 29.39 KB (English, DOCX 29.39 KB)
Post Falls Assessment PDF, Open PDF file, 319.23 KB (English, PDF 319.23 KB)
Post Falls Assessment, Open DOCX file, 55.98 KB (English, DOCX 55.98 KB)

Risk Management

Emergency Department Health Bulletin September 2026, Open PDF file, 153.01 KB (English, PDF 153.01 KB)
Bed Bugs, Open RTF file, 285.16 KB (English, RTF 285.16 KB)
Bed Rail Entrapment , Open DOC file, 358 KB (English, DOC 358 KB)
Case Status , Open RTF file, 71.81 KB (English, RTF 71.81 KB)
CPAP Protocol, Open RTF file, 48 KB (English, RTF 48 KB)
Domestic Violence Protocol, Open RTF file, 70.61 KB (English, RTF 70.61 KB)
Dysphagia and Aspiration Fact Sheet May 2025, Open PDF file, 509.96 KB (English, PDF 509.96 KB)
Overview dysphagia choking and aspiration March 2025, Open PDF file, 175.45 KB (English, PDF 175.45 KB)
Fire Safety, Open RTF file, 116.75 KB (English, RTF 116.75 KB)
Head Hitting Protocol , Open RTF file, 45 KB (English, RTF 45 KB)
Health Related Supports and Protective Equipment Authorization Form July 2025, Open DOCX file, 63.78 KB (English, DOCX 63.78 KB)
Hoarding, Open RTF file, 53.62 KB (English, RTF 53.62 KB)
Hypothermia and Frostbite, Open PDF file, 270.1 KB (English, PDF 270.1 KB)
Missing Person Protocol 2019, Open PDF file, 177.07 KB (English, PDF 177.07 KB)
No Response to Efforts to Contact, Open RTF file, 47.87 KB (English, RTF 47.87 KB)
PICA Management Plan Guidelines, Open PDF file, 10.78 KB (English, PDF 10.78 KB)
Risk Management Policy and Procedures Manual 2012, Open RTF file, 1.75 MB (English, RTF 1.75 MB)
Substance Abuse Protocol , Open RTF file, 53.57 KB (English, RTF 53.57 KB)
Tick-born Disease Prevention, Open PDF file, 240.45 KB (English, PDF 240.45 KB)
Treadmill Safety, Open RTF file, 47 KB (English, RTF 47 KB)
Water Safety, Open RTF file, 58 KB (English, RTF 58 KB)

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

Allergic Reactions, Open PDF file, 270.47 KB (English, PDF 270.47 KB)
Antibiotic Resistance, Open PDF file, 447.35 KB (English, PDF 447.35 KB)
Bowel Obstruction, Open PDF file, 269.09 KB (English, PDF 269.09 KB)
C. Diff, Open PDF file, 268.92 KB (English, PDF 268.92 KB)
Constipation, Open PDF file, 329.89 KB (English, PDF 329.89 KB)
Dehydration, Open PDF file, 330.71 KB (English, PDF 330.71 KB)
Diarrhea, Open PDF file, 329.69 KB (English, PDF 329.69 KB)
Ebola Bulletin_July 2026, Open PDF file, 62.86 KB (English, PDF 62.86 KB)
Ebola Disease Fact Sheet_July 2026, Open PDF file, 144.79 KB (English, PDF 144.79 KB)
Falls, Open PDF file, 337.06 KB (English, PDF 337.06 KB)
Health Observation Guide, Open PDF file, 331.63 KB (English, PDF 331.63 KB)
Heat-Related Illnesses June 2026, Open PDF file, 276.23 KB (English, PDF 276.23 KB)
Just Not Right, Open PDF file, 268.08 KB (English, PDF 268.08 KB)
Mosquito Health Alert , Open PDF file, 247.43 KB (English, PDF 247.43 KB)
DDS Statement on Non-Prescription Devices Outside of the Scope of 115 CMR 5.12, Open PDF file, 110.95 KB (English, PDF 110.95 KB)
Opioid Withdrawal Fact Sheet, Open DOCX file, 50.53 KB (English, DOCX 50.53 KB)
Osteoporosis, Open PDF file, 352.57 KB (English, PDF 352.57 KB)
Pica, Open PDF file, 327.27 KB (English, PDF 327.27 KB)
Pressure Ulcers, Open PDF file, 324.09 KB (English, PDF 324.09 KB)
Respiratory Virus Spread Guidance October 2025, Open PDF file, 280.7 KB (English, PDF 280.7 KB)
Seizures, Open PDF file, 341.23 KB (English, PDF 341.23 KB)
Sepsis, Open PDF file, 261.1 KB (English, PDF 261.1 KB)
Sleep Apnea, Open PDF file, 323.04 KB (English, PDF 323.04 KB)
Tick-borne Disease Prevention 2025, Open PDF file, 496.19 KB (English, PDF 496.19 KB)

CPAP/BiPAP Use

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