PATIENT LIFTING

1. PATIENTLIFTING

2. OBJECTIVE • Identify the procedures for safely lifting a patient

3. PATIENT LIFTING • Principles of Safe Lifting • Principles of Safe Carrying Patients • Patient Handling and Equipment

4. Principles of Safe Lifting • Use Longest and Strongest muscle groups • Keep arms and legs close to your body • Use legs, not back, to lift • Evaluate every situation • Plan in advance and assemble resources

5. Guidelines for Safe Lifting • Consider weight of patient and need for additional help • Know physical ability and limitations • Lift without twisting • Communicate clearly and frequently with partner(s)

6. Guidelines for Safe Lifting (cont) • LIFTING COTS AND STRETCHERS • Know or find out weight to be lifted • Use at least two people • Use even # of people; maintain balance • Know weight limitation of equipment • What if patient exceeds weight limit?

7. Lift Positions • Power Lift Position • Weak knees and thighs • Procedures: • Spread feet • Straddle cot/backboard; feet flat • Distribute weight on balls of feet • Stand; back locked and upper body up before hips

8. Lift Positions (cont) • Power Grip • Maximum force from hands • Palm and fingers in complete contact with object • All fingers are bent at same angles • Hands should be at least 10” apart

9. Principles of Safe Carrying • Guidelines for Safe Carrying: • Know weight to be lifted • Know crew’s abilities • Coordinate & communicate with partners • Keep wt. close to body • Keep back “locked-in”; do not twist

10. Principles of Safe Carrying(cont) • Guidelines (cont) • Flex at the hips; bend at the knees • Do not hyperextend back

11. Principles of Safe Carrying(cont) • Carrying a Stretcher • Partner of similar strength/height • 4 or more EMT-B’s • Lift “face on” with both hands • Once lifted to carrying height, turn in proper direction and switch to using one hand

12. Patient Handling Equipment • Wheeled Stretchers • Portable Stretchers • Scoop Stretcher • Basket Stretcher (Stokes Litter) • Flexible Stretcher • Backboards • Litter

13. Wheeled Stretcher • Two Rescuer • Used in narrow spaces; requires more strength • Rescuers should face each other • Easily unbalanced

14. Wheeled Stretcher (cont) • Four Rescuer • One at each corner • More stability; less strength required • Safer over rough terrain • Scoop stretcher - interim device • Place scoop around patient • Lock scoop stretcher and transfer patient • Unlock and remove scoop stretcher

15. Portable Stretchers • Used when wheeled stretcher cannot be used • Weighs less than wheeled stretcher • Patient and equipment must be supported by EMT’s

16. Scoop Stretcher • Splits into two or four pieces • Fitted around patient lying on ground or flat surface • Requires both sides of pt. accessible • Not adequate when used alone for spinal injury

17. Basket Stretcher (Stokes Litter) • Used in technical and water rescues • Holes in bottom to allow water to drain • Line bottom with waterproof material

18. Flexible Stretcher • Excellent support and immobilization • Uncomfortable • May be folded or rolled • Can be lowered by rope or slid down a flight of stairs

19. Backboards • Used primarily for suspected spinal injuries • Long Backboards • 6-7 feet long • Commonly for patients found lying down

20. Backboards (cont) • Short Backboards • 3-4 feet long • Used for patients found in sitting position • Designed to immobilize head and torso

21. Litter • 3-person lift and carry onto litter • Place litter next to victim • All kneel on same side of victim (knee towards head is up) • Hand positions • Head - one under neck; one under shoulders • Middle - one under lower back; one below buttocks • Feet - one under ankles; one under knees

22. Litter (cont) • 3-person (cont) • Lifting victim onto litter • Rescuer at head gives commands • Lift victim onto knee, towards you • Move forward to litter • Lower victim onto litter(may need to slide victim- positioning)

23. Litter (cont) • 4th Rescuer Available • Stays on side of litter opposite victim • Slides litter into position • Steadies litter while victim is lowered

24. Litter (cont) • Carrying the Litter • Apply at least 2 litter straps(3 preferred), before lifting litter • 2 rescuers at head, one at foot; if 4th rescuer available, 2 at head, 2 at feet

25. Litter (cont) • Carrying the Litter (cont) • Rescuer at victim’s right shoulder gives commands • Lift on command • Wait for command to move; carry feet first • Procedures reversed for stopping and lowering

26. Litter (cont) • On-loading victims into ambulance • Load head first • As approach ambulance, bear around so head is facing rear of ambulance • Lower litter (using commands) • Positioning • One rescuer at feet (tallest, strongest) • Other two on either side, about midway

27. Litter(cont) • On-Loading Victims (cont) • Command from rescuer at feet, lift so handles rest on seat • Rescuers on sides go into ambulance • One at head • One near middle • All slide litter into ambulance

28. Litter (cont) • On-loading Victims (cont) • Litters loaded in specific order • Upper right • Lower right • Upper left • Lower left

29. Litter (cont) • On-Loading Victims (cont) • Loading litter into top position • Rescuers stay in position • On command, litter lifted and inside position hooked first and inform other EMTs • Never mix deceased and live victims

30. Litter (cont) • Off-loading patients • Reverse entire procedure • Most seriously injured last so off-loaded first

31. SUMMARY • Principles of Safe Lifting • Guidelines for Safe Lifting • Lift Positions • Principles of Safe Carrying • Guidelines for Safe Carrying • Carrying a Stretcher

32. SUMMARY (cont) • Patient Handling Equipment • Wheeled Stretcher • Portable Stretcher • Scoop Stretcher • Basket Stretcher • Flexible Stretcher • Backboards • Litter

33. NOW, LET’S PRACTICE… Woo-Hoo!