Lifting and moving

patients

LESSON GOAL
Learn the correct techniques, equipment and
positioning for lifting and carrying patients
safely and effectively in a variety of situations
and locations.

LESSON OBJECTIVES
Define body mechanics.
Describe the guidelines and safety precautions

for carrying patients and/or equipment.

Enumerate different techniques of carrying
patients in cases of emergency.
Identify situations in which an emergency and
non emergency move is indicated.
Understand the importance of patient
positioning , various types of patient
positioning, and indications for each type.
Discuss various types of transportation devices
used in moving patients.

PEARLS OF LIFTING AND MOVING

PATIENTS
Excellent Body Mechanics
Excellent Communication
Proper Weight Distribution
Get as many People as Needed
Use the Right Tools for the Job
Safety, Safety, Safety
Take care to avoid injury whenever a patient is

moved.
Practice using equipment.
Know that certain patient conditions call for special
techniques

Body Mechanics
Defined as the use of ones body to produce motion
that is safe, energy conserving and efficient, all of which
allows the person to maintain balance and control.

Importance of Body Mechanics

Ensure clinician and patient safety
Place less stress and strain on the body preventing
injury
To conserve energy

Principles of body
mechanics
Basic principles- be safe, be clear be consistent and be
positive.
Remain close to the object or position the object close
to you
Shoulder girdle should be aligned over the pelvis.
Lifting should be done with legs.
Weight should be kept close to the body.
Grasp should be made with palms up.
Use the largest and strongest muscles of your arms,
legs and trunk.
Avoid twisting your body when you lift.
When possible , push , pull , roll, or slide rather than
lifting it.

Correct Body Mechanics

Incorrect Body Mechanics

Proper Lifting

Power Lift
Tighten your back in its normal upright

position.
Position your feet about 15 apart and
bend legs to lower your torso and arms.
Grasp the stretcher or backboard with your
hand held palms up.
Adjust your position to balance the weight.
Lift by straightening your legs until you are
standing. Always keep the weight you are
lifting as close to your body as possible.

Performing the Power Lift

Power Grip
-gets the maximum force from your hands
whenever you are lifting a patient.
The arms and hands have their greatest lifting

strength when facing palm up.

Your hands must be 10 apart whenever you grasp
a litter or a backboard.
Each hand should be inserted under the handle
with the palm facing up and the thumb extended
upward.
Curl your fingers and thumb tightly over the top of
the handle.
Make sure that the underside of the handle is fully
supported on your curved palm.
Never grasp a backboard or a litter with the hand
placed palm down over the handle.

Performing the Power

Grip

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF LIFTING

Be aware of your own physical abilities and limitations
Always consider patients weight. Call for additional

help if necessary
Bend at your knees , not your waist
Use your legs, not your back, to lift
Keep the weight as close to your body as possible
Maintain your back in its normal curvature position.
Lift without twisting
Keep your feet properly positioned and balanced to
maintain your center of gravity
Communicate clearly and frequently with your partner
Evenly distribute the weight

Safe Reaching and

Pulling

Principles of Safe Reaching and Pulling

When you use a body drag, the same basic body mechanics

and principles apply as when lifting and carrying.

When reaching overhead, avoid hyperextending your back .
When pulling a patient on the ground, kneel to minimize
the distance that you will have to lean over.
When pulling , extend your arms no more than about 15to
20in front.
Keeping your reach within the recommended distance,
reach forward and grasp the patient so that your elbows
are just beyond the anterior torso.
Reposition your feet so the force of pull will be balanced
equally between both arms, and the line of pull will be
centered between them.
Pull the patient by slowly flexing your arms.
When you can pull no further, stop and move back another
15 to 20. When properly positioned repeat the steps.

Three Categories of
Moves
Emergent Moves
Urgent Moves
Non-Urgent Moves

Emergent moves
Used when there is an immediate danger to
the patient or rescuer.

Types of Emergent Moves

One Person Walking Assist
Lovers /Cradle Carry
Firefighters Carry
Pack Strap Carry
Piggyback carry
Firefighters Drag
The Blanket Drag
Armpit Forearm/ Shoulder Drag
The Shirt/Clothes Drag
Arm Drag
Lower extremity drag

Urgent Moves
Used in patients with immediate threats to life

or when patients need rapid transport.

Type of Urgent Moves:

Rapid Extrication Technique

When to Use Rapid Extrication Technique

Vehicle or scene is unsafe.
Patient cannot be properly assessed.
Patient requires immediate care.
Patients condition requires immediate

transport.
Patient is blocking access to another
seriously injured patient.

ONE PERSON RAPID EXTRICATION

Non-Urgent Moves
Used when there is no immediate threat to
life with patient or rescuers.

Types of Non-Urgent Moves

Direct Ground Lift

Extremity Lift
Direct Carry
Draw Sheet Method

Direct ground lift

Extremity lift

Direct carry

Draw sheet method

ONE MAN/RESCUER
DRAGS AND CARRIES

ASSIST TO WALK

Assist to walk
Support and steady
patient by grasping
patients hand and
supporting patient with
your other arm

LOVERS CARRY/CRADLE CARRY

Place one arm across patients back with your
hand under her arm. Place your other arm under
her knees and lift. If your patient is conscious, have
her place her arm over your shoulder.

FIREFIGHTERS CARRY
Place your feet against patients
feet and pull her toward you.
Bend at waist and flex knees.
Duck and pull across your
shoulders, keeping hold of one of
her wrists.
Use free arm to reach between
her legs and grab her thigh.
Allow her weight to fall onto your
shoulders.
Stand up.
Transfer your grip on her thigh to
her wrist.

PACK STRAP CARRY

Have patient stand.
Turn your back to her,
bringing her arms over your
shoulders to cross your chest.
Keep her arms as straight as
possible, with her armpits
over your shoulders.
Hold patients wrists, bend
and pull her onto your back

PIGGY BACK CARRY

Assist patient to stand.
Place her arms over your
shoulder so they cross your
chest.
Bend over and lift her.
While she holds with her
arms, crouch and hold each
thigh.
Use a lifting motion to move
her onto your back.
Pass your forearms under her
knees and grasp her wrists.

FIREFIGHTERS DRAG
Place patient on his back
and tie hands together.
Straddle patient, facing his
head.
Crouch, pass your head
through his trussed arms,
and raise your body.
Crawl on your hands and
knees. Keep patients head
as low as possible

BLANKET DRAG
Gather half of the material up against
patients side.
Roll patient toward your knees so that
you can place blanket under him.
Gently roll patient back onto the
blanket.
Keep patients head as low as
possible.
Keep your back as straight as
possible. Use your legs not your back.
Try to keep the pull as straight and in
line as possible.

SHOULDER DRAG

The shoulder drag is preferred

to ankle pull. It supports the
head of the victim, the negative
is that it requires the rescuers to
bend over the waist while
pulling.
- Grasp the victim by the clothing
under the shoulders
- keep your arms on both sides o
the head
- support the head.
-Try to keep the pull as straight
and in line as possible

Shirt or Clothes drag

ARM DRAG

ARM-ARM DRAG

LOWER EXTREMITY DRAG

The victim is too large

to carry. Do not use if
you suspect Head ,
Neck or Back injury

TWO PERSON DRAG/

CARRY

HUMAN CRUTCH/TWO-PERSON DRAG

For the conscious victim
-this carry allows the victim to swing their leg using the
rescuers as a pair of crutches. For the unconscious victim, it
is a quick and easy way to move a victim out of immediate
danger.
Start with the victim on the ground.
Both rescuers stand on either side of the victim's chest.
The rescuer's hand nearest the feet grabs the victim's wrist
on their side of the victim.
The rescuer's other hand grasps the clothing of the shoulder
nearest them.
Pulling and lifting the victim's arms, the rescuers bring the
victim into a sitting position.
The conscious victim will then stand with rescuer assistance.
The rescuers place their hands around the victim's waist.

-For the unconscious victim

The rescuers will grasp the belt or the

waistband of the victims clothing.
The rescuer will then squat down.
Place the victims arms over their shoulders so
that they end up facing the same direction as
the victim.
Then, using their legs , they stand with the
victim.
The rescuers then move out, dragging the
victims leg behind.

FOUR-HANDED SEAT
This technique is for carrying
conscious and alert victims on
moderate distances. The victim must
be able to stand unsupported and
hold themselves upright during
transport.
1. Position the hands as indicted in
the graphic.
2. Lower the seat and allow the victim
to sit.
3. Lower the seat using your legs, not
your back.
4. When the victim is in place, stand
using your legs, keeping your back
straight.

TWO-HANDED SEAT/ HAND AS A

LITER
This technique is for carrying a victim longer
distances.
This technique can support an unconscious
victim.
1. Pick up the victim by having both rescuers
squat down on either side if the victim.
2. Reach under the victim's shoulders and
under
their knees.
3. Grasp the other rescuer's wrists.
4. From the squat, with good lifting technique,
stand.
5. Walk in the direction that the victim is facing

CHAIR CARRY
This is a good method for carrying victims up and
downstairs or through narrow or uneven areas.
NOTE: The chair used should be a sturdy one.
Don't use aluminum beach chairs, resin patio
chairs, swivel chairs, or lightweight folding chairs.
REMEMBER: Chairs with wheels can be used to roll
the victim, but should not be used for a carry.
1.Pick the victim up and place them or have them
sit in a chair.
2. The rescuer at the head grasps the chair from
the sides of the back, palms in.
3. The rescuer at the head then tilts the chair back
onto its rear legs.
4. For short distances or stairwells, The second
rescuer should face in and grasp the chair legs.
5. For longer distances, the second rescuer should
separate the victim's legs, back into the chair and,
on the command of the rescuer at the head, both
rescuers stand using their legs.

EXTREMITY CARRY

THREE OR MORE
RESCUERS/ PERSONS

HAMMOCK CARRY
Three or more rescuers get on both sides of the
victim.
The strongest member is on the side with the
fewest
rescuers.
1. Reach under the victim and grasp one wrist on
the opposite rescuer.
2. The rescuers on the ends will only be able to
grasp one wrist on the opposite rescuer.
3. The rescuers with only one wrist grasped will
use
their free hands to support the victim's head and
feet/legs.
4. The rescuers will then squat and lift the victim
on the command of the person nearest the head,
remembering to use proper lifting techniques.

THREE-PERSON CARRY
OR STRETCHER LIFT
This technique is for lifting patients onto a bed or stretcher, or for
transporting them short distances.
1. Each person kneels on the knee nearest the victim's feet.
2. On the command of the person at the head, the rescuers lift
the victim up and rest the victim on their knees.
If the patient is being placed on a low stretcher or litter basket:
On the command of the person at the head, the patient is placed
down on the litter/stretcher.
If the victim is to be placed on a high gurney/bed or to be carried:
At this point, the rescuers will rotate the victim so that the victim
is facing the rescuers, resting against the rescuers' chests.
3. On the command of the person at the head, all the rescuers
will stand.
4. To walk, all rescuers will start out on the same foot, walking in
a line abreast.

Equipment to Help Move Patients:

Wheeled Stretcher
Backboard
Kendrick Extrication Device (KED)
Scoop Stretcher
Stair Chair
Basket Stretcher (Stokes Basket)
Flexible Stretcher (Road Cot)

Wheeled Ambulance
Stretcher
Most commonly used device
Has specific head and footends
Has a folding undercarriage
EMT-B must be familiar to specific
features of cots used in the ambulance.

Backboard

Kendrick Extrication Device

(KED)

Scoop Stretcher

Stair Chair

Basket Stretcher

Portable Stretcher

Flexible Stretcher

Patient Packaging
Recovery Position
Spinal Motion Restriction
Position of Comfort
Shock Position
Pregnancy Position

Recovery Position Unconscious

Patient

Position of Comfort

Shock Position
Patient Without Spinal Injury

Medical Restraints
Evaluate for correctible causes of
combativeness.
Head injury, hypoxia, hypoglycemia
Follow local protocols.
Restraint requires five personnel.
Restrain patient supine.
Positional asphyxia may develop in prone
position.

Medical Restraints
Apply restraint to

each extremity.
Assess circulation
after restraints are
applied.
Document all
information.

Personnel Considerations
Remember, an injured rescuer cannot help

anyone.
Questions to ask before moving patient:
Am I physically strong enough to lift/move this
patient?
Is there adequate room to get the proper
stance to lift the patient?
-Do I need additional personnel for lifting
assistance?

Questions?