Moving Patients

Lesson Objective Lesson Objective Select the correct patient handling procedures. Select the correct patient handling procedures.

Overview: Overview:  Principles of Safe Reaching and Pulling  General Considerations in Moving Patients  Emergency Moves

Overview: cont.  Urgent Move  Non Urgent Moves  Stair Chair  Practice

Principles of Safe Reaching and Pulling Guidelines for reaching  Keep back locked  Avoid hyperextending back  Avoid twisting while reaching

Guidelines for reaching (cont.)  Avoid reaching >15-20 inches in front  Avoid providing strenuous support

Log rolls  Keep back straight while leaning over patient over patient  Lean from hips  Use shoulder muscles to help with roll with roll

Pulling Guidelines Push rather than pull when possible  Keep back locked  Keep line of pull to center of body  Bend Knees

Pulling Guidelines (cont)  Keep load close to body  Keep elbows bent and arms close to side close to side

Pushing Guidelines  Push from area between waist and shoulder  DO NOT use arms alone  Kneel to move objects below waist  Avoid bending over

General Considerations in Moving Patients  Moving should be unhurried  Bystanders must be given simple but detailed instructions  Consider number of times you lift or move patients  Reduce or eliminate the need for additional movements

Situations that warrant patient move prior to assessment and care:  Patient’s or your life in danger  Fire or danger of fire  Explosives or hazardous materials  Inability to protect pt from other hazards at scene

Situations that warrant patient move prior to assessment and care: (cont.)  Inability to administer care due to pt location/position  Moving one patient to get to another who need immediate care  Presence of shock, unconsciousness, inadequate respiration

Emergency Moves  Primary concern is aggravating spinal injury  Pull patient along axis of body

Emergency Moves  Move patients along the floor or ground by using: v Clothes drag v Blanket drag v Fire fighter’s drag

Emergency Moves  Carries v Fire fighter’s carry - prone position v Firefighter’s carry - supine v Use firefighter’s carries for semiconscious or unconscious patients with no neck or spinal injury

Emergency Moves  Front cradle  One person walking assist

Emergency Moves  One person technique is used when patient must be moved immediately  One person methods are for transfer only  Always get help if possible

Urgent Move  Rapid Extrication”, its used when a patient must be quickly removed from a dangerous situation  Disadvantage is that it does not provide as much support as a spinal immobilization device

Non Urgent Moves  Direct Ground Lift - 3 person lift  Extremity lift  Lifting from a chair to a wheel chair

Stair chair  Used to transport patients up and down stairway  Facilitates patient transfer  Once you are out of stairs, transfer patient to conventional stretcher

Summary:  Principles of Safe Reaching and Pulling  General Considerations in Moving Patients  Emergency Moves

Summary: cont.  Carries  Urgent Move  None urgent moves  Stair chair