emt chapter 3 - lifting and moving

body mechanics

proper use of your body to prevent injury and for lifting and moving

rules when lifting

position feet properly

use your legs

never turn or twist

do not compensate when lifting with one hand

keep weight close to your body

use stair chair when on stairs

power lift

squatting position with feet apart and weight close to the body

power grip

gripping under hand with as much hand surface as possible, hands 10 inches apart

pushing and pulling

push more when possible

keep back locked in

bend knees, keep line of pull through the center of your body

keep weight close to your body

avoid pushing/pulling overhead

elbows bent, arms close to sides

when to use emergancy moves

1. hazardous scenes

2. patient is in life threatening conditions

3. you also need to reach other patients

greatest danger of emergency moves

patients injury may be aggravated

when are urgent moves required

when a patient must be moved quickly for treatment of an immediate life threat

spinal precautions are required

urgent moves examples

required treatment can be performed only if the patient is moved or if

factors of the scene cause patient decline (ex. severe cold)

backboards

typically used for urgent moves

good for cpr

log roll the patient onto it

non urgent moves

when there is no immediate life threat

use all safety precautions

patient carrying device

a stretcher/other device used to carry the patient safely to the ambulance/hospital

types of emergency moves

clothes drag

incline drag

shoulder drag

foot drag

firefighters drag

blanket drag

types of emergancy carrys

cradle carry

pack strap carry

firefighters carry/carry with assist

piggyback carry

one/two rescuer assist

wheeled strechers

aka stretcher/cot

best for cardiac patients with no neck/spinal injuries

2 basic types of stretchers

1. power stretchers (will lift patients from the ground)

2. manual stretchers (lifted by emts)

bariatric

patients who are severely obese

spine/back boards

there are two types (short and long)

used to carry patients from the scene to the stretcher or to immobilize a patient

moving patients with suspected spinal injuries

must have head, neck, and spine immobilized

use backboard

moving patients with no spinal injury

1. extremity lift: carries patient to a stretcher/chair

2. direct ground lift: when a patient with no suspected spinal injury needs to be moved from the ground to a stretcher

3. draw sheet method: moves patient from a bed at home to a stretcher

4. direct carry: also carries patient from a bed at home to a stretcher

shock positioning

place patient in a supine position to allow for maximum blood flow throughout the body

arriving at the hospital

move the patient from your stretcher to a hospital stretcher using a modified draw sheet for transfer