Why are family members generally not allowed to restrain patients?

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Restraints are high-risk safety measures that require specific training to use correctly. Staff are taught how to assess whether restraint is truly necessary, choose the least restrictive option, apply it safely, monitor for breathing, circulation, skin integrity, and neurological status, and document and review its use. Family members generally lack this training and knowledge of safety risks and enablers, so they may misjudge when it’s needed, apply restraints too tightly or for too long, or miss signs of complications, increasing the chance of harm. Policies typically limit restraint use to trained personnel with proper authorization, prioritizing de-escalation and alternatives whenever possible. Family involvement is valuable for support and communication, but restraints should be applied only by those with appropriate training to protect patient safety.