Are padded rooms in psychiatric facilities still necessary with the advent of many new medications and techniques to help patients? That is a great question. While medicines and techniques have significantly reduced the need for padded safety rooms, sometimes a safety room is the best option for the patient and staff. In general, you want to use a padded safety room if other less aggressive de-escalation and other preventive strategies have failed and there remains the immediate potential for harm to the patient or other people. We also like the terms “de-escalation room” or “calming room” for padded safety rooms because ultimately, what we all want is to have patients calm enough where there is no danger to the patient or staff. In other words, padded safety rooms should be seen as one of the tools in your de-escalation toolbox. We should note, that an underutilized benefit of a padded safety room in psychiatric facilities is providing patients with a calming place. Generally, in this scenario, patients are allowed to use the room as a calming room as they desire. In general, the patient is free to leave at their will when used as a quiet room. As a necessary reminder, any tool should only be used for its intended use. Padded safety rooms in psychiatric facilities are no different. Padded rooms should NEVER be used as punishment, to create unnecessary mental or physical suffering, or to establish dominance. A padded safety room is meant for the SAFETY of patients and staff. Any tool in the medical industry can be, and it is essential medical facility administrators create and enforce clear and appropriate guidelines on how to utilize a padded safety room for the good of all involved.