AEMT Chapter 6 - Lifting & Moving

A long, flat board made of rigid, rectangular material that is used to provide support to a patient who is suspected of having a hip, pelvic, spinal, or lower extremity injury; also called a spine board, trauma board, and longboard.

Backboard

The branch of medicine concerned with the prevention and control of obesity and associated diseases

Bariatrics

A rigid stretcher commonly used in technical and water rescues that surrounds and supports the patient yet allows water to drain through holes in the bottom.

Basket stretcher

A carrying technique in which one provider is located at the head end of the stretcher or backboard, one at the foot end, and one at each side of the patient; each of the two providers at the sides uses one hand to support the stretcher or backboard so that all are able to face forward as they walk.

Diamond carry

A nonurgent move that is a method for moving a patient from a bed to a stretcher, in which a stretcher is positioned next to the bed and two rescuers move the patient.

Direct carry method

A lifting technique that is used for patients who are found lying supine on the ground with no suspected spinal injury.

Direct ground lift

A nonurgent move that is a method for moving a patient onto a stretcher using a sheet on which the patient is lying.

Draw sheet method

A stretcher that is a rigid carrying device when secured around a patient but can be folded or rolled when not in use.

Flexible stretcher

A device used to transport a neonate in an ambulance; also called an incubator.

Isolette

The act of preparing a patient for movement as a unit by means of a backboard or similar stabilization device.

Packaging

A stretcher with a strong rectangular tubular metal frame and rigid fabric stretched across it.

Portable stretcher

A technique in which the stretcher or backboard is gripped by inserting each hand under the handle with the palm facing up and the thumb extended, fully supporting the underside of the handle on the curved palm with the fingers and thumb.

Power grip

A lifting technique in which the AEMT's back is held upright, with legs bent, and the patient is lifted when the AEMT straightens the legs to raise the upper body and arms.

Power lift

A technique to move a patient from a sitting position inside a vehicle to supine on a backboard in less than 1 minute when conditions do not allow for standard immobilization.

Rapid extrication technique

A stretcher that is designed to be spit into 2 or 4 sections that can be fitted around a pt who is lying on the ground or other relatively flat surface; also called an orthopaedic stretcher

Scoop stretcher

A specially designed stretcher that can be rolled along the ground. A collapsible undercarriage allows it to be loaded into the ambulance. Also called the stretcher or an ambulance stretcher.

Wheeled ambulance stretcher

Patients on a backboard on stairs

Up- head first, down- feet first

To minimize the risk of injuring yourself when lifting or moving a patient, you should:

Keep the weight as close to your body as possible.

When carrying a patient up or down stairs, you should avoid:

Using a wheeled stretcher whenever possible.

Prior to applying medical restraints to a combative patient, you should:

Evaluate the patient for potentially correctable cause of combativeness, such as head injury, hypoxia, or hypoglycemia.

You and your partner respond to the scene of a 49-year-old male with acute abdominal pain. As you enter his residence, you find him lying on the floor in severe pain. He is conscious and alert. The patient appears to weigh in excess of 350 lb. Your first action should be to:

Request additional personnel before making any attempts to lift him.

You have two patients who were involved in a motor vehicle crash when their SUV struck a tree-one with neck and back pain, and the other with a deformed left femur. The patient with the deformed femur states that he does not want to be placed on a hard board, nor does he want a collar around his neck. What is the most appropriate and practical method of securing these patients and placing them into the ambulance?

Immobilize the patient with neck and back pain on a long backboard and place him on the wheeled stretcher; place the patient with the deformed femur on a folding stretcher secured to the squad bench.

Which of the following is the most appropriate device to use when immobilizing a patient with a suspected spinal injury?

Long backboard.

In contrast to typical wheeled ambulance stretchers, features of a bariatric stretcher include:

Increased stability due to a wider wheelbase.

Which of the following statements regarding an emergency patient move is correct?

An emergency move is performed before the primary survey, and care is provided.

An 81-year-old female fell and struck her head. You find the patient lying on her left side. She is conscious and complains of neck and upper back pain. As you are assessing her, you note that she has a severely kyphotic spine. What is the most appropriate method of immobilizing this patient?

Leave her on her side and use blanket rolls to immobilize her to the long backboard.

Which of the following situations would require an urgent patient move?

Semiconscious patient with shallow respirations and signs of shock.

It is essential that you _ your equipment to prevent the spread of disease.

Decontaminate.

Situations in which you should use the rapid extrication technique include all of the following, except:

A patient who can be properly assessed while still in the vehicle.

When a person is standing upright, the wight of anything being lifted and carried in the hands is first reflected onto the:

Shoulder girdle.

The most appropriate carrying device to use when moving a patient across rough or uneven terrain is the:

Basket stretcher

The extremity lift would not be appropriate to use on a patient:

With a deformed humerus.

Which of the following statements regarding patient weight distribution is correct?

The majority of a horizontal patient's weight is in the torso.

When performing the rapid extrication technique to remove a patient from his or her vehicle, you should:

Apply a cervical collar and remove the patient on a long backboard.

In which of the following situations is an emergency patient move indicated?

The AEMT is unable to protect the patient from scene hazards.

What is the most appropriate method to use when moving a patient from his or her bed to the wheeled stretcher?

Draw sheet method.

The proper technique for using the power grip is to:

Lift with your palms up.

In which of the following situations would a direct ground lift be the most appropriate method of moving a patient?
A. A pedestrian with back pain after being struck by a car.
B. An unconscious patient with a possible ischemic stroke.
C. A patient who complains of hip pain following a fall.
D. A conscious paitent complaining of abdominal pain.

D. A conscious patient complaining of abdominal pain.

When moving a conscious, weak patient down a flight of stairs, you should:

Place the wheeled stretcher at the bottom of the stairs and carry the patient down the stairs with a backboard or stair chair.

When the shoulder girdle is aligned over the pelvis during lifting:

The weight is exerted straight down the vertebrae.

Which of the following statements regarding the neonatal isolette is correct?

The isolette serves to keep the neonate warm and protects from excess handling.

A lifting technique that is used for patients who are supine or in a sitting position on the ground with no suspected extremity or spinal injuries.

Extremity lift

A lifting technique that is used for patients who are found lying supine on the ground with no suspected spinal injury.

Direct ground lift

A lightweight folding device that is used to carry a responsive, seated patient up or down stairs.

Stair chair

A branch of medicine concerned with the management (prevention or control) of obesity and allied diseases.

bariatrics.

A specially designed stretcher that can be rolled along the ground. A collapsible undercarriage allows it to be loaded into the ambulance; also called an ambulance stretcher.

Wheeled ambulance stretcher.

A move in which the patient is dragged or pulled from a dangerous scene before a primary survey and care are provided.

Emergency move.

A stretcher that is designed to be split into two or four sections that can be fitted around a patient who is lying on the ground or other relatively flat surface; also called an orthopaedic stretcher.

Scoop stretcher