Learning

OVERVIEW

After students complete this chapter and the related coursework, they will understand the mechanics of patient movement, types of patient-moving devices, patient movements for emergency and nonemergency situations, techniques for moving patients as a team, and ways to protect themselves from injury when moving patients.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Describe the general guidelines for moving patients. (p 34)
Explain the purpose and indications for use of the recovery position. (pp 34–35)
Discuss the components of good body mechanics. (p 35)
Explain how emergency medical responders should decide when emergency movement of a patient is necessary. (p 35)
Describe the purpose of each of the following pieces of equipment:

- Wheeled ambulance stretcher (p 44)
- Portable stretcher (p 44)
- Stair chair (p 44)
- Long backboard (p 45)
- Short backboard (p 45)
- Scoop stretcher (p 46)

SKILLS OBJECTIVES

Demonstrate the components of good body mechanics. (p 35)
Demonstrate the steps needed to perform the following emergency patient drags:

- Clothes drag (p 35)
- Blanket drag (p 36)
- Arm-to-arm drag (p 36)
- Firefighter drag (p 36)
- Emergency drag from a vehicle (p 37)

Demonstrate the steps needed to perform the following carries for nonambulatory patients:

- Two-person extremity carry (p 38)
- Two-person seat carry (p 38)
- Cradle-in-arms carry (p 39)
- Two-person chair carry (p 39)
- Pack-strap carry (p 39)
- Direct ground lift (pp 40–41)
- Transfer from a bed to a stretcher (pp 40–41)

Demonstrate the steps needed to perform the following walking assists for ambulatory patients:

- One-person walking assist (pp 41–42)
- Two-person walking assist (pp 41–42)

Demonstrate the steps in each of the following procedures for patients with suspected spinal injuries:

- Applying a cervical collar (pp 47–48)
- Moving the patient using a long backboard (p 45)
- Assisting with a short backboard device (pp 45–46; pp 49–50)
- Log rolling (pp 49–52)
- Straddle lifting (p 52)
- Straddle sliding (p 52)
- Strapping (pp 52–53)
- Immobilizing the patient’s head (pp 53–54)