When must a caregiver release a child from a personal restraint?

• A. Within one minute of the implementation of a prone or supine transitional hold.
• B. After the child calms.
• C. When the supervising clinician returns.
• D. When the child requests release.

Answer: (A)

This item focuses on how long a caregiver should keep a child in a personal restraint to protect safety. The rule is to release within one minute after the prone or supine transitional hold begins. Keeping the restraint brief limits the risk of harm, supports de-escalation, and moves toward the least restrictive intervention as soon as it is safe.

Releasing only after the child calms can create delays and variability, which increases risk. Waiting for the supervising clinician to return, rather than acting to release promptly when it’s safe, also adds unnecessary delay. Releasing only when the child requests it places the burden on the child and may be unsafe if the child cannot communicate distress clearly or quickly enough.