Chapter 3: Lifting and Moving

Question 1

body mechanics

Answer 1

the proper use of the body to facilitate lifting and moving and prevent injury

Question 2

What factors do you consider before lifting and moving patients?

Answer 2

The object (weight); your limitations; terrain; communication: make a plan

Question 3

Principle of proper body mechanics

Answer 3

position your feet properly; use your legs; never twist or turn; Do not compensate when lifting with one hand; Keep the weight as close as possible to your body

Question 4

How to lift a stair chair?

Answer 4

Keep your back straight. Flex your knees and lean forward from the hips, not the waist. If you are walking backward downstairs, ask a helper to steady your back

Question 5

Power lift

Answer 5

a lift from a squatting position with weight to be lifted close to the body, feet apart and flat on the ground, body weight on or just behind the balls of the feet, and the back locked in. The upper body is raised before the hips. Also called the squat-lift position.

Question 6

Power grip

Answer 6

gripping with as much hand surface as possible in contact with the object being lifted, all fingers bent at the same angle, and hands at least ten inches apart.

Question 7

Good mechanics when reaching

Answer 7

○ Keep your back in a locked-in position
○ Avoid twisting while reaching
○ Avoid reaching more than twenty inches in front of your body
○ Avoid prolonged reaching when a strenuous effort is required

Question 8

Good mechanics when pushing or pulling

Answer 8

○ Keep your back in a locked-in position
○ Avoid twisting while reaching
○ Avoid reaching more than twenty inches in front of your body
○ Avoid prolonged reaching when the strenuous effort is required

Question 9

Requires Emergency move

Answer 9

○ The scene is hazardous
§ Threat of fire, explosion, electrical hazards, toxic gases, or radiation
○ Care of life-threatening condition requires repositioning
§ Move a patient to perform CPR
○ You must reach other patients

Question 10

Urgent Move

Answer 10

○ The required treatment can be performed only if the patient is moved
○ Factors at the scene cause patient decline
§ i.e. heat or cold
Moving a patient onto a long spine board, also called a backboard, is an urgent move used when there is an immediate threat to life and suspicion of spine injury

Question 11

Non-Urgent Moves

Answer 11

use patient-carrying devices

Question 12

Patient-Carrying Devices

Answer 12

Stretcher or other device designed to carry then patient safely to the ambulance or to the hospital

Question 13

Wheeled Stretchers

Answer 13

□ Commonly referred to stretcher, cot or litter
□ Rough terrain and uneven surfaces may cause the stretcher to tip
□ Odd number of EMTs may cause the stretcher to become off balance (two EMTs)
® Rough terrain: use four stretchers

Question 14

Power Stretcher

Answer 14

lift up to 700 lbs

Question 15

Manual Stretcher

Answer 15

requires EMT to lift

Question 16

Bariatric Stretchers

Answer 16

having to do with patients who are significantly overweight or obese

Question 17

Stair Chairs

Answer 17

□ For stairs and tight corners

Can roll and flat ground

Question 18

Spine Board

Answer 18

Two types: short and long

short spine boards: primarily for removing patients from vehicles

Question 19

When should use a portable stretcher or folding stretchers?

Answer 19

may be used for multiple-casualty incidents

Question 20

Scoop stretcher

Answer 20

split in half lengthwise so you can ‘scoop’ patients

Question 21

Basket stretcher

Answer 21

move the patient from one level to another over rough terrain

Question 22

Flexible stretcher

Answer 22

made of canvas with wooden slates sewn in

Question 23

Vacuum mattress

Answer 23

air is withdrawn to become rigid

Question 24

Extremity lift

Answer 24

a method of lifting and carrying a patient during which one rescuer slips hands under the patient’s armpits and grasps the wrists, while another rescuer grasps the patient’s knees

Question 25

Direct ground lift

Answer 25

a method of lifting and carrying a patient from ground level to a stretcher in which two or more rescuers kneel, curl the patient to their chests, stand, then reverse the process to lower the patient to the stretcher.

Question 26

Draw-sheet method

Answer 26

a method of transferring a patient from bed to stretcher by grasping and pulling the loosened bottom sheet of the bed

Question 27

Direct carry

Answer 27

a method of transferring a patient from bed to stretcher, during which two or more rescuers curl the patient to their chests then reverse the process to lower the patient to the stretcher

Question 28

Patient Positioning: unresponsive patient with no suspected spine injury

Answer 28

recovery position
The patient should be on his side to aid drainage from his mouth and, if he vomits, to help prevent his breathing the vomitus into his lungs. This can be accomplished on a wheeled stretcher.

Question 29

Patient Positioning for Shock

Answer 29

○ Believed to be in shock are placed in a supine position
Patients who have experienced trauma (injury) are sometimes placed on a spine board and immobilized to prevent further injury. These patients should remain in a supine and level position on the backboard. Do not lower the head (which may cause difficulty breathing) or raise the legs (which may aggravate an injury and make transportation more difficult).