Rule 5180:2-9-22 | Isolation, seclusion and restraint.
(A) Under what circumstances can physical restraint and isolation be used in a residential facility?
Physical restraint and isolation are only to be used in emergency circumstances when less restrictive interventions have been determined to be ineffective and in accordance with written approval of a certified or licensed health care professional and a certified or licensed practitioner of behavioral science.
(B) What are the emergency situations that justify the use of physical restraint or isolation?
(1) For protection of the child from imminent harm.
(2) To protect another person from a child.
(3) For self protection.
(C) Who is authorized to use physical restraint or isolation?
Physical restraint and isolation are only to be utilized by staff who have current American red cross, American heart association or equivalent first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification, and who are current on their training in the acceptable methods of restraint.
(D) Is approval needed to use restraint techniques?
(1) Any restraint techniques used to restrain a child are to be previously approved and listed in the behavioral intervention policy of the residential facility.
(2) Prone restraint is prohibited. Prone restraint is a method of intervention where a person's face and/or frontal part of his or her body is placed in a downward position touching any surface for any amount of time. Prone restraint includes physical or mechanical restraint.
(E) When should physical restraint or isolation end?
The physical restraint or isolation is to end when the child's behavior no longer constitutes an emergency.
(F) What are the requirements for a residential facility to use isolation rooms?
(1) A residential facility is to isolate residents only in accordance with the facility's written policy, which has received the prior approval of the Ohio department of children and youth (DCY).
(2) Isolation is only to be used by a residential facility with an isolation room approved by DCY that meets the requirements of this rule.
(G) How many children can be placed in an isolation room at one time?
Only one child is to be placed in an isolation room at a time.
(H) Are there time limits on how long a child can be isolated?
(1) A child is not to be isolated longer than fifteen continuous minutes without written supervisory approval.
(2) A child is not to be isolated for longer than one continuous hour and no longer than a total of two hours in any twenty-four hour period.
(I) What reasons can isolation be used?
A residential facility is to ensure that isolation is used exclusively for the behavior management of a child who is out of control at the time of isolation.
(J) What are the environmental requirements for an isolation room?
(1) Any room used for isolation is to be lighted, well-ventilated, and maintained at the same temperature as the rest of the facility. The room is to be at least fifty-six square feet in size, and is to have a ceiling height of at least seven feet, six inches and is to be free of any objects or materials which might be used to inflict self-injury.
(2) Any room used for isolation is not to be used for any other purpose, at any other time.
(K) How should staff communicate with a child during isolation?
When a child is placed in isolation, staff are to inform the child of the reason for placing him or her in isolation. Before continuing a child's isolation, staff are to discuss with the child the need for continued isolation. Upon release from isolation, staff are again to discuss with the child the reason for the use of isolation.
(L) What procedures must staff follow during isolation?
(1) Staff members are to ensure that a child who is placed in isolation is not in possession of any object or material which might be used to inflict self-injury.
(2) Staff is to be in auditory contact with an isolated child at all times and is to make visual observation of an isolated child every five minutes during the period of isolation.
(3) Visual observations as outlined by this rule are to be documented in an isolation log. The isolation log is to contain as outlined in DCY 01386 "Restraint and Isolation Incident Report":
(a) The name of the child.
(b) The time of placement in isolation.
(c) The reason for the placement in isolation and the discussion of the reason for isolation with the child.
(d) The chronology of observations including the signature or initials of the staff who placed the child in isolation.
(e) The written supervisory approval of a child isolated longer than fifteen continuous minutes.
(f) The written approval of the administrator or designee for continued isolation of a child for any period of isolation longer than thirty minutes.
(g) The time of removal from isolation.
(M) Is there an age limit for a child placed in isolation?
No child under the age of six is to be isolated.
Last updated August 13, 2026 at 8:26 AM
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