Final answer:
The Free Water Protocol includes guidelines for safe water consumption for patients with swallowing difficulties, emphasizing oral hygiene, controlled water intake timing, and often involves thickened liquids during meals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Free Water Protocol is a set of guidelines used in health care settings, specifically for patients with swallowing difficulties, to reduce the risk of aspiration when consuming liquids. These rules aim to allow patients to enjoy drinking free water (water without thickener added) under certain conditions, even if they have dysphagia.
The protocol includes specific steps such as maintaining oral hygiene, timing water intake to avoid it around mealtimes, and often requires that thickened liquids are consumed during meals. Comprehensive assessment by a speech-language pathologist and a team approach are also central to the successful implementation of these protocols.