Lifting and moving patients

Barry Kidd 2010Barry Kidd 2010 11

LIFTING AND LIFTING AND MOVING PATIENTSMOVING PATIENTS

Don’t put your back at riskDon’t put your back at risk


Moving and PositioningMoving and Positioningthe Patientthe Patient

Take care to avoid injury Take care to avoid injury whenever a patient is moved.whenever a patient is moved.

Practice using equipment.Practice using equipment.

Know that certain patient Know that certain patient conditions call for special conditions call for special techniques.techniques.


Body MechanicsBody Mechanics Shoulder girdle should be Shoulder girdle should be

aligned over the pelvis.aligned over the pelvis. Feet shoulder-width apartFeet shoulder-width apart Keep backs straight.Keep backs straight. Lift with legs.Lift with legs. Keep weight close to the Keep weight close to the

body.body. Do not twistDo not twist Grasp should be made with Grasp should be made with

palms up.palms up.

Wrong: Back Bent & Reaching


Performing the Power GripPerforming the Power Grip

A power grip gets the maximum A power grip gets the maximum force from your handsforce from your hands

Arms and hands face palm up.Arms and hands face palm up. Hands should be at least 10" apart.Hands should be at least 10" apart. Each hand goes under the handle Each hand goes under the handle

with the palm facing up and the with the palm facing up and the thumb extended upward.thumb extended upward.


Performing the Power GripPerforming the Power Grip

Curl fingers and Curl fingers and thumb tightly over thumb tightly over the top of the the top of the handle.handle.

NeverNever grasp a grasp a litter or backboard litter or backboard with the hands with the hands placed palms-down placed palms-down over the handle.over the handle.


Performing the Power LiftPerforming the Power Lift

Tighten your back in Tighten your back in normal upright position.normal upright position.

Spread your legs apart Spread your legs apart about 5".about 5".

Grasp with arms extended Grasp with arms extended down side of body.down side of body.

Adjust your Adjust your orientation and orientation and position.position.

Reposition feet.Reposition feet.Lift by Lift by

straightening straightening legs.legs.


Weight and DistributionWeight and Distribution

Patient will be Patient will be heavier on head heavier on head end.end.

Patients on a Patients on a backboard or backboard or stretcher should stretcher should be diamond be diamond carried.carried.


Diamond CarryDiamond Carry

Four EMRs lift device while facing patient.Four EMRs lift device while facing patient.

EMR at foot end turns around to face forwardEMR at foot end turns around to face forward.. EMR at sides turn.EMR at sides turn.

Four EMRs face same direction when walking.Four EMRs face same direction when walking.


One-Handed CarryingOne-Handed Carrying

Face each other Face each other and use both and use both hands.hands.

Lift the backboard Lift the backboard to carrying height.to carrying height.

Turn in the Turn in the direction you will direction you will walk and switch to walk and switch to using one hand.using one hand.


Carrying Backboard or Cot on Carrying Backboard or Cot on StairsStairs

Strap patient Strap patient securely to the securely to the backboard.backboard.

Carry patient down Carry patient down stairs foot end first, stairs foot end first, head end elevated. head end elevated.

Carry patient up Carry patient up stairs head end first.stairs head end first.


Using a Stair ChairUsing a Stair Chair

Secure patient to stair chair with straps.Secure patient to stair chair with straps. Rescuers take their places: one at head, one at Rescuers take their places: one at head, one at

foot. foot. Rescuer at the head gives directions.Rescuer at the head gives directions. Third rescuer precedes.Third rescuer precedes.


Robinson Orthopedic StretcherRobinson Orthopedic Stretcher Adjust stretcher length.Adjust stretcher length.

Lift patient slightly and Lift patient slightly and slide stretcher into slide stretcher into place, one side at a place, one side at a time.time.

Lock stretcher ends Lock stretcher ends together.together.

Secure patient and Secure patient and transfer to the cot.transfer to the cot.


General ConsiderationsGeneral Considerations

Plan the move.Plan the move.

Look for options Look for options that cause the that cause the least strain.least strain.


Directions and CommandsDirections and Commands

Anticipate and understand every Anticipate and understand every move.move.

Moves must be coordinated.Moves must be coordinated.

Orders should be given in two parts.Orders should be given in two parts.


Additional GuidelinesAdditional Guidelines

Find out how much the patient weighs.Find out how much the patient weighs. Know how much you can safely lift.Know how much you can safely lift. Communicate with your partners.Communicate with your partners. Do not attempt to lift a patient who Do not attempt to lift a patient who

weighs over 250 lbs with fewer than weighs over 250 lbs with fewer than four rescuers.four rescuers.

Avoid unnecessary lifting or carrying.Avoid unnecessary lifting or carrying.


Principles of Safe Reaching Principles of Safe Reaching and Pullingand Pulling

Back should always be locked and straight.Back should always be locked and straight. Avoid any twisting of the back.Avoid any twisting of the back. Avoid hyperextending the back.Avoid hyperextending the back. When pulling a patient on the ground, kneel to When pulling a patient on the ground, kneel to

minimize the distance.minimize the distance.


Principles of Safe Reaching Principles of Safe Reaching and Pullingand Pulling

Use a sheet or blanket if you must Use a sheet or blanket if you must drag a patient across a bed.drag a patient across a bed.

Unless on a backboard, transfer Unless on a backboard, transfer patient from the cot to a bed with patient from the cot to a bed with a body drag.a body drag.

Kneel as close as possible to Kneel as close as possible to patient when performing a log roll.patient when performing a log roll.


Principles of Safe Reaching Principles of Safe Reaching and Pulling and Pulling (3 of 3)(3 of 3)

Elevate wheeled ambulance cot or stretcher Elevate wheeled ambulance cot or stretcher before moving.before moving.

Never push an object with your elbows locked.Never push an object with your elbows locked.

Do not push or pull from an overhead position.Do not push or pull from an overhead position.


Emergency Moves Emergency Moves

Performed if there is some potential Performed if there is some potential danger for you or the patientdanger for you or the patient

Performed if necessary to reach Performed if necessary to reach another patient who needs lifesaving another patient who needs lifesaving carecare

Performed if unable to properly Performed if unable to properly assess patient due to locationassess patient due to location


Emergency Drags Emergency Drags

Clothes DragClothes Drag

Blanket dragBlanket drag


Emergency Drags Emergency Drags

Arm-to-Arm DragArm-to-Arm Drag

Arm DragArm Drag


One-Person Rapid ExtricationOne-Person Rapid Extrication


One-Rescuer Drags, Carries, One-Rescuer Drags, Carries, and Liftsand Lifts

Front cradleFront cradleFire fighter’s dragFire fighter’s drag



One-person One-person walking walking assistassist

Fire fighter’s Fire fighter’s carrycarry



Pack strapPack strap


Urgent MovesUrgent Moves

Used to move a patient who Used to move a patient who has potentially unstable injurieshas potentially unstable injuries

Use the rapid extrication Use the rapid extrication technique to move patients technique to move patients seated in a vehicle. seated in a vehicle.


When to Use RapidWhen to Use RapidExtrication TechniqueExtrication Technique

Vehicle or scene is unsafe.Vehicle or scene is unsafe. Patient cannot be properly assessed.Patient cannot be properly assessed. Patient requires immediate care.Patient requires immediate care. Patient’s condition requires Patient’s condition requires

immediate transport.immediate transport. Patient is blocking access to another Patient is blocking access to another

seriously injured patient.seriously injured patient.


Rapid ExtricationRapid Extrication

Provide in-line Provide in-line support and support and apply cervical apply cervical collar.collar.



Rotate Rotate patient as patient as a unit.a unit.



Lower patient Lower patient to the to the backboard.backboard.


Nonurgent MovesNonurgent Moves

Direct Direct ground ground liftlift


Nonurgent Moves Nonurgent Moves

Extremity Extremity liftlift


Transfer MovesTransfer Moves

Direct carryDirect carry

Draw sheet methodDraw sheet method


GeriatricsGeriatrics

Emotional concernsEmotional concerns– FearFear

Skeletal concernsSkeletal concerns– OsteoporosisOsteoporosis– RigidityRigidity– KyphosisKyphosis– SpondylosisSpondylosis

Pressure soresPressure sores Use special immobilizing techniques.Use special immobilizing techniques. Be compassionate.Be compassionate.


BariatricsBariatrics

““Care of the obese”Care of the obese” Increase in back injuries among EMTsIncrease in back injuries among EMTs Manufacturing of higher capacity Manufacturing of higher capacity

equipment equipment Use proper lifting techniques.Use proper lifting techniques.


QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Lifting and moving patients

Healthcare

Transcript of Lifting and moving patients