Chapter 8 – Lifting and Moving Patients
Tools of the EMT for transport:
v
Wheeled Ambulance Stretcher
v
Backboard
v
Stair Chair
v
Bariatric Stretcher
v
Portable/folding stretchers
v
Basket stretchers
v
Scoop stretchers
v
Neonatal isolette
Prevent Back injuries
·
Lifting position
o
Shoulder width apart
o
Hands held close to legs
o
Hold spine straight
o
Palms up
o
Avoid:
§
Learning forward when lifting
§
Bent at hips when lifting
·
Drag techniques
o
Clothes drag
o
Blanket drag
o
Arm drag
o
Arm-to-arm drag
·
Patient positioning – Depends on chief complaint
o
Any head injury, shock, spinal injury,
pregnancy, and obese patients require special lifting techniques
§
Spinal injuries – need to avoid moving the
spine.
§
Late pregnancy – position and transported on
left side
§
Unresponsive patient w/ NO suspected spinal
injury placed in recovery position.
o
Any chest pain/respiratory distress place
patient in position of comfort
§
Fowler (45 – 60 degree head elevation) or
semi-fowler (30 – 45 degree head elevation)
·
Safety
o
Patient weight
§
Each EMT should be able to lift 125 lbs
§
For patients larger than 250 lbs call for all
additional support
o
ALWAYS decontaminate equipment after use.
o
Medical restraints
§
ALWAYS evaluate for correctable causes of combativeness:
head injury, hypoxia, hypoglycemia
§
Requires 5 personnel to apply.
§
ALWAYS restrain in Supine position.
§
Assess ABCs, mental status, distal circulation
AFTER restraints are applied.
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