Safe Lifting
I found a site dedicated to a campaign to encourage safe patient lifting in the
healthcare facility environment. The Safe Lifting Portal site is sponsored by an industry group that is seeking to reduce workplace injuries in the healthcare sector.
The problem is they focus solely on the facility sector and not for us in the field. But, there is a lot of good information there. Also, check with the hospitals in your area and find out what they have available to help us with lifting once we get to the ED or up on the floors.
Regardless, we — the leadership both current and future — need to be proactive in promoting safe patient handling. We don’t have enough of us as it is and it is foolish to lose colleagues to back strain injuries forced on us by our workplace.
- Call for manpower assistance
- Reposition the patient for the best lifting
- Plan ahead
- Use devices like stairchairs, slider boards, and back boards
- Don’t twist and lift
- Use your legs and arms, keep your back in line with your hips
Stay safe!
Jamie
Filed under EMS Tips by on Mar 20th, 2007. Comment. 
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Comments on Safe Lifting
Here’s another little hint that I would suggest. I look for open ends off of decks and landings as I enter a residence. When bringing a patient out I often use those open ends and let the stretcher down while on that landing then pull it off and extend the wheels like I am pulling it out of the truck. It’s a simple tip, but many folks just don’t think about it. I started out with the old 2 man stretchers when you had to lift the whole thing into the truck. You look for every shortcut you can after that.