Many hospitals have outdoor areas designed for patients and visitors to enjoy fresh air during their time at the facility. While spending time outside has benefits for people’s well-being, it also introduces safety risks that hospitals need to address. Uneven pavement or poor visibility can create dangerous conditions, particularly for people with limited mobility.
Fortunately, there are several ways to make hospital outdoor areas safer without restricting access to these spaces. From improving walking conditions to addressing environmental hazards, here are some steps hospitals can take to protect everyone who spends time outside.
Maintain Even Walking Surfaces
Uneven pavement creates tripping hazards, particularly for patients who have difficulty lifting their feet while walking. Over time, concrete sections may settle at different heights, leaving raised edges that catch shoes or mobility equipment. Even a relatively small change in elevation can cause someone to lose their balance.
Routine inspections allow maintenance teams to identify these problems before someone gets hurt. Damaged pavement should receive repairs that restore a level walking surface, while severely deteriorated sections may require replacement.
Improve Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor areas need sufficient illumination, even when people don’t use them regularly after dark. Cloudy weather can also make it difficult for pedestrians to identify obstacles along walkways. Fortunately, there are several lighting options available for different outdoor spaces.
One solution for areas with railings is solar post caps, which collect sunlight during the day and use stored energy to produce light. Installing these fixtures along railings adds illumination where pedestrians need to see the edges of elevated walkways. Hospitals can also position lights near steps to make changes in elevation easier to identify.
Keep Walkways Free of Obstructions
Outdoor walkways need enough open space for people to move without navigating around unexpected obstacles. A wheelchair user, for instance, may struggle to pass through a narrow section where an object blocks part of the path. Pedestrians attempting to squeeze around it could also step onto nearby landscaping or uneven ground.
Hospitals should establish rules for keeping pedestrian routes unobstructed throughout the day. Maintenance crews need to remove debris promptly, while other staff members should avoid leaving equipment in areas intended for foot traffic. Regular inspections are equally necessary because an obstruction can appear long after the morning maintenance crew has finished its rounds.
Install Handrails Along Sloped Walkways
Sloped walkways present additional challenges for people who struggle with balance or have limited lower-body strength. Walking downhill requires controlled movement, and patients recovering from certain procedures may have difficulty maintaining that control. A properly installed handrail gives pedestrians something to grip when they need extra support.
Handrails should extend along the portion of the route where users need assistance. Their height and placement must also comply with applicable accessibility requirements. Beyond installation, maintenance teams should inspect the connections securing each rail because loose hardware can compromise its ability to support someone.
Use Slip-Resistant Walking Materials
Outdoor surfaces become slippery when moisture reduces friction between the pavement and a person’s shoes. Smooth materials may become hazardous after rainfall, particularly where pedestrians need to change direction. People using mobility aids also need surfaces that provide adequate traction.
When hospitals replace outdoor pavement, slip resistance should influence their material selection. Textured concrete offers traction through its surface finish without requiring a separate coating. Existing walkways may benefit from an appropriate treatment when their original finish has worn smooth. Whatever material a hospital chooses, its surface should remain accessible to wheelchair users and withstand regular exposure to outdoor conditions.
Prevent Landscaping From Blocking Visibility
Plants contribute to the appearance of hospital grounds, but overgrown vegetation can interfere with pedestrian visibility. Tall shrubs near walkway intersections may prevent people from seeing someone approaching from another direction. That restricted view increases the possibility of collisions, particularly when someone uses a wheelchair or moves with limited control.
Landscape maintenance should account for sightlines instead of focusing exclusively on plant health. Regular trimming keeps vegetation from extending into areas where pedestrians need an unobstructed view. When hospitals introduce new landscaping, selecting plants with appropriate mature heights reduces the need for repeated corrective pruning.
Provide Seating Along Walking Routes
Some patients can’t comfortably walk long distances without stopping to rest. A route that appears short to someone in good health may prove exhausting for a person recovering from surgery. Without accessible seating, that person may attempt to continue walking despite increasing fatigue.
Benches placed at intervals give pedestrians opportunities to rest before continuing their journey. Seating should have stable construction, with armrests that assist people when standing up. Hospitals should also leave adequate space beside benches for wheelchair users to remain with their companions. This arrangement allows people with different mobility needs to spend time together without blocking the walkway.
Make Pedestrian Crossings More Visible
Hospital grounds frequently include roads that pedestrians must cross to reach outdoor spaces. Drivers entering parking areas may encounter people moving at different speeds, including patients who need extra time to cross. Poorly marked crossings make these interactions more dangerous because drivers have less guidance about where pedestrians will appear.
Visible pavement markings establish where pedestrians should cross the roadway. Hospitals should maintain those markings as paint wears away through vehicle traffic and weather exposure. Crossings also need unobstructed views so approaching drivers can see pedestrians before reaching the crossing area. Proper placement reduces conflicts between vehicles and people traveling on foot.
Address Ice on Outdoor Routes
Winter weather introduces slippery conditions that demand prompt maintenance. Ice may develop when melted snow refreezes overnight, leaving pedestrians vulnerable to falls the following morning.
Hospitals need a winter maintenance schedule that accounts for changing temperatures throughout the day. Staff should remove accumulated snow before it becomes compacted under foot traffic. When ice forms, appropriate treatments can improve traction until crews remove the hazard. Maintenance teams should also monitor previously treated areas because additional freezing can create new slippery patches.
Improve Drainage Around Walkways
Standing water creates problems for pedestrians even when temperatures remain above freezing. Puddles can conceal damaged pavement, making it harder for someone to identify an uneven section before stepping into it. Persistent moisture may also encourage algae growth, which reduces traction on certain surfaces.
Drainage improvements begin with identifying where water collects after rainfall. Some walkways need adjustments to their slope so water travels toward an appropriate drainage outlet. Others may require repairs to existing drainage infrastructure. By addressing the source of standing water, hospitals can reduce recurring hazards instead of repeatedly removing puddles after storms.
Safer Outdoor Spaces for Everyone
Hospital outdoor areas should give patients and visitors somewhere to spend time comfortably without worrying about unnecessary hazards. By addressing safety concerns and keeping up with regular maintenance, hospitals can make outdoor areas safer for everyone who uses them. These improvements allow people to enjoy time outside while reducing the risk of preventable injuries.
