Sometimes, we all need a time-out. Today’s world is full of stimuli, 24-hour bright lights, noise, and rushed deadlines. But for those with special needs, it can be difficult for them to express their stress and fear before they reach their breaking point. Young children are also learning how to calm themselves down when the world seems determined to stress them out. In these situations, de-escalation room padding installed in schools and healthcare facilities creates a safe space for those who need a time-out to rest and calm down.
What is a time-out or de-escalation room?
Time-out or de-escalation rooms are safety rooms where the surfaces are padded. Walls, floors, doors, and even ceilings are sometimes covered in safety wall padding. Fixtures are typically secured behind the padding to ensure a high level of safety and security. The wall padding in a time-out room is similar to gym wall padding that you might see in a sports facility. No matter where you see wall padding, its ultimate purpose is to keep people safe from injuring themselves or others.
Time-out or de-escalation rooms areas are designed to give people a place to go when negative emotions and outside stimuli become too much for them to handle. The wall padding is made of a durable yet soft material that keeps people safe from harm while they de-escalate and return to a state of equilibrium and calmness. In some facilities, a de-escalation room may also be called:
- Seclusion room
- Calming room
- Padded room
- Quiet room
- Personal safety room
De-escalation room padding also offers the facility owners a few benefits, too. Wall padding lowers an organization’s risk of liability as the wall padding helps prevent time-out room occupants from harming themselves during the de-escalation session. Wall padding also reduces the chances of workman’s comp claims being filed.
Where is de-escalation room padding installed?
In the last few decades, rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), emotional behavioral disorder (EBD), and social-emotional behavioral difficulties (SEBD) have increased. Increased rates of these disorders in the general and school-aged population, along with changes in legislation, mean there is a higher burden on schools and other facilities to keep people safe from the harm. You might find a de-escalation room installed in the following facilities:
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Inpatient care facilities
- Prisons
- Rehab centers
- Eldercare centers
People detoxing from drugs and alcohol may become violent toward themselves or rehab staff, and can benefit from the calming effects of a padded safety room. In eldercare facilities, patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s can become agitated and hurtful. Padded de-escalation rooms not only keep elderly patients safe from harming themselves, but they also give them a chance to calm down in a safe and secure environment. Staff members are also kept safe from injury, reducing liability issues for the facility. Only one person at a time can use a de-escalation room. In larger facilities, more than one room may need to be installed.
Why would someone need to use a de-escalation room?
Psychological care and interventions have become more sophisticated and effective over the last few years. Modern medications have also made considerable improvements in the lives of people on the autism spectrum or who have emotional difficulties. But sometimes, a student or patient will become overstimulated, agitated, and possibly violent toward themselves or others. The purpose of de-escalation room wall padding ultimately boils down to safety for the individual and those around them. When someone becomes overwhelmed or enraged, they can go into a padded room to safely begin the de-escalation process and return to a state of calmness.
What are some of the most common features found in a padded de-escalation room?
Professional wall padding installation techs have the ability to design the wall padding to fit whatever space is needed, and to the facility’s specifications. Walls, doorways, floors, and ceilings can be outfitted with safety wall padding. The padding can also come in a variety of calming colors. Wall padding that is designed for a de-escalation room is practically indestructible. It is extremely difficult for someone to tear or pull the padding away from the wall where it’s secured. Wall padding for seclusion rooms also comes with a Class A fire rating and self-extinguishable technology for additional safety features.
Wall padding installed in a de-escalation room is also free of seams and cracks. This reduces the chances of the padding coming loose from the wall. A non-slip surface also keeps people inside the room safe from further injury. Caring for and cleaning the wall padding installed in a time-out room is also easy. The material is durable enough to withstand regular soaps and detergents. Also, it is resistant to mold and fungus, which ensures a long lifespan of the material.
You may think that padding a floor might lead to scuff marks and other damages. But de-escalation room padding applied to a floor is given a resinous coating, making it resistant to scuffs. Bond coats are also applied to the back of the padding, so that it is secured tightly to the floor without harming it.
Can you apply de-escalation wall padding to existing rooms?
Existing rooms can be outfitted with high-quality and durable de-escalation wall padding. It is also possible to design new construction with de-escalation room wall padding in mind. The entire room, including window reveals and radiators, can be outfitted with this special padding. A bed surround and bed headboards can also be covered, as well as door frames and hard furniture.
It’s also possible to install de-escalation padding in a bathroom. For padding installed in a bathroom where moisture will be an ever-present factor, the padding is often coated in a liquid polymer. This helps to keep it mold, moisture, and slip-resistant. A professional de-escalation wall padding installer in New Jersey can create a custom design for an existing room that meets the facility’s needs and budget.
De-Escalation Room Wall Padding: A Takeaway Message
The rise in behavioral and emotional disorders, an aging population, and drug and alcohol abuse mean facilities will have to install padded rooms for both patient and staff safety. Wall padding is easy to clean and virtually indestructible. Conveniently, a facility can have wall padding installed on an existing room. Having a de-escalation room installed with durable and soft padding will keep staff and patients safe, reducing the facility’s liability. Contact J&J Gym Floors today at (973) 801-7219 to learn more about our wall padding installation services.