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Please give me ergonomic advice as to the best way to move a stretcher with a patient on board. The patient needs to have the head up at least 30 degrees. What is the correct way to move a stretcher with a patient on it, especially when the head needs to be elevated?
Lesley Palmer
Northwestern Occupational Health, VT |
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Dear
Lesley:
The Lift Doctor assumes you are performing a normal transfer with no complex equipment or protocols, and the only unusual consideration is the patient’s inclined head position. For patient safety, we would suggest you consider using straps or tie-downs to secure the patient to the stretcher in order to prevent the patient from moving, sliding down, or aggravating any injuries. For caregiver safety, (because any transport procedure is potentially hazardous) the process should be organized and efficient. A minimum of two people should accompany the patient, one on each side if possible, in order to minimize any ergonomic stressors. Further, one of them should assume responsibility for patient monitoring while the other assumes responsibility for steering and manipulation of the stretcher.
The Lift Doctor* |
