Restraints
Physical restraints — including belts, vests, bedrails or laptop trays — are items used to restrain, restrict or prevent movement in patients and that they cannot easily remove. Restraints are used in the belief that they will prevent a patient from harm. Research shows, however, that the use of restraints can lead to agitation, depression and confusion; weaker muscles and bones; and an increased risk of falling, strangulation and pressure ulcers. A wide variety of resources are available to help organizations create restraint use reduction plans.
Article
Sensory Rooms in Mental Health 
Occupational Therapy Innovations, 2008. The article describes the many kinds of sensory rooms, therapeutic spaces that can be used as an alternative to restraints.
Practice Standard
Restraints
College of Nurses of Ontario, 2009. This practice standard helps nurses understand their responsibilities and make informed decisions about the use of restraints. 
Presentation
What’s New in Seclusion and Restraint Reduction Efforts? 
Huckshorn, K.A., Lebel, J., 2007. This report gives an overview of international activities and perspectives on seclusion and restraint use in Queensland, Australia’s, mental health facilities.
Reports
Creating Safety: Addressing Restraint and Seclusion Practices project report
State of Victoria Department of Health, 2009. This report sets out the findings of a restraint practices project in the state of Victoria, Australia, to help health services create a restraint reduction strategy.
Restraint Use and Other Control Interventions for Mental Health Inpatients in Ontario
Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), 2011. The analysis reviews three types of restraints: chemical, physical and the use of seclusion. The findings suggest that the use of restraints in Ontario can be reduced, and the authors suggest change ideas for improvement.
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) Tool
Heartland Behavioral Health Services, Nevada, Missouri, 2008. This comprehensive tool helps healthcare teams reduce restraint use.
The Safety Tool
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, 2006. This two-page tool can be used to record information provided by patients about triggers and their preferred de-escalation approaches.
Six Core Strategies© to Reduce the Use of Seclusion and Restraint Planning Tool
Huckshorn, K.A., National Technical Assistance Center, 2005. This tool can be used as a template or checklist when designing a seclusion and restraint reduction plan.
