Moving PatientsMoving Patients

Moving PatientsMoving Patients

Lesson ObjectiveLesson Objective

Select the correct patient Select the correct patient handling procedures.handling procedures.

Overview:Overview:

Principles of Safe Reaching and Principles of Safe Reaching and PullingPulling

General Considerations in Moving General Considerations in Moving PatientsPatients

Emergency MovesEmergency Moves

Overview: cont.Overview: cont.Urgent MoveUrgent MoveNon Urgent MovesNon Urgent MovesStair ChairStair ChairPracticePractice

Principles of Safe Reaching and Principles of Safe Reaching and PullingPulling

Guidelines for reachingGuidelines for reaching Keep back lockedKeep back locked Avoid hyperextending back Avoid hyperextending back Avoid twisting while reachingAvoid twisting while reaching

Guidelines for reaching (cont.)Guidelines for reaching (cont.)

Avoid reaching >15-20 inches in Avoid reaching >15-20 inches in frontfront

Avoid providing strenuous Avoid providing strenuous supportsupport

Log rollsLog rolls

Keep back straight while leaning Keep back straight while leaning

over patientover patientLean from hipsLean from hipsUse shoulder muscles to helpUse shoulder muscles to help

with rollwith roll

Pulling GuidelinesPulling Guidelines

Push rather than pull when possiblePush rather than pull when possible Keep back lockedKeep back locked Keep line of pull to center Keep line of pull to center

of bodyof body Bend KneesBend Knees

Pulling Guidelines (cont)Pulling Guidelines (cont)

Keep load close to bodyKeep load close to body Keep elbows bent and armsKeep elbows bent and arms

close to sideclose to side

Pushing GuidelinesPushing GuidelinesPush from area between waist and Push from area between waist and

shouldershoulderDO NOT DO NOT use arms aloneuse arms aloneKneel to move objects below waistKneel to move objects below waistAvoid bending overAvoid bending over

General Considerations in Moving General Considerations in Moving PatientsPatients

Moving should be unhurriedMoving should be unhurriedBystanders must be given simple but Bystanders must be given simple but

detailed instructionsdetailed instructionsConsider number of times you lift or Consider number of times you lift or

move patientsmove patientsReduce or eliminate the need for Reduce or eliminate the need for

additional movementsadditional movements

Situations that warrant patient move Situations that warrant patient move prior to assessment and care:prior to assessment and care:

Patient’s or your life in dangerPatient’s or your life in dangerFire or danger of fireFire or danger of fireExplosives or hazardous Explosives or hazardous

materialsmaterialsInability to protect pt from other Inability to protect pt from other

hazards at scenehazards at scene

Situations that warrant patient move Situations that warrant patient move prior to assessment and care: (cont.)prior to assessment and care: (cont.)

Inability to administer care due to Inability to administer care due to pt location/positionpt location/position

Moving one patient to get to Moving one patient to get to another who need immediate careanother who need immediate care

Presence of shock, Presence of shock, unconsciousness, inadequate unconsciousness, inadequate respirationrespiration

Emergency MovesEmergency Moves

Primary concern is aggravating Primary concern is aggravating spinal injuryspinal injury

Pull patient along axis of bodyPull patient along axis of body

Emergency MovesEmergency MovesMove patients along the floor or Move patients along the floor or

ground by using:ground by using: Clothes dragClothes drag Blanket dragBlanket drag Fire fighter’s dragFire fighter’s drag

Emergency MovesEmergency Moves

CarriesCarries Fire fighter’s carry - prone Fire fighter’s carry - prone

positionposition Firefighter’s carry - supineFirefighter’s carry - supine Use firefighter’s carries for Use firefighter’s carries for

semiconscious or unconscious semiconscious or unconscious patients with no neck or spinal patients with no neck or spinal injuryinjury

Emergency MovesEmergency Moves

Front cradleFront cradleOne person walking assistOne person walking assist

Emergency MovesEmergency MovesOne person technique is used One person technique is used

when patient must be moved when patient must be moved immediatelyimmediately

One person methods are for One person methods are for transfer onlytransfer only

AlwaysAlways get help if possibleget help if possible

Urgent MoveUrgent MoveRapid Extrication”, its used when Rapid Extrication”, its used when

a patient must be quickly removed a patient must be quickly removed from a dangerous situationfrom a dangerous situation

Disadvantage is that it does not Disadvantage is that it does not provide as much support as a provide as much support as a spinal immobilization devicespinal immobilization device

Non Urgent MovesNon Urgent MovesDirect Ground Lift - 3 person liftDirect Ground Lift - 3 person liftExtremity liftExtremity liftLifting from a chair to a wheel Lifting from a chair to a wheel

chairchair

Stair chairStair chair

Used to transport patients up and Used to transport patients up and down stairwaydown stairway

Facilitates patient transferFacilitates patient transferOnce you are out of stairs, transfer Once you are out of stairs, transfer

patient to conventional stretcherpatient to conventional stretcher

Summary:Summary:Principles of Safe Reaching and Principles of Safe Reaching and

PullingPullingGeneral Considerations in Moving General Considerations in Moving

PatientsPatientsEmergency MovesEmergency Moves

Summary: cont.Summary: cont.

CarriesCarriesUrgent MoveUrgent MoveNone urgent movesNone urgent movesStair chairStair chair