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4 hints to safely lift patients Lifting more than 51 pounds in the floor can lead to injuries, and training must raise for proper lifting techniques 2015 , Apr 10 By Bryan Fass Among the advantages of teaching more than 500 courses per year is I get to find out plenty of patterns in Fire and EMS -rescue; patterns of responders go, lift, pull, take, transfer and simply walk. I also get to hear plenty of stories about how very few ever get back to normal after an injury and how responders got hurt. My aha instant one day was only this: "EMS is in the moving business; we are movers!" EMS is in the business that is moving (Image Bryan Fass) ASSOCIATED POSTS The best way to use cots and stretchers with their full potential 2 EMS lifting techniques to reduce injuries 4 steps to stay injury free ASSOCIATED CONTENT SPONSORED BY Every facet of our job is physical, all of our tools are heavy and transferring individuals is a job task that is critical. Yet as a profession we spend little to no time training the way to transfer things safely. A question I ask in all my courses is "When was the last time you had a detailed patient and gear handling category?" What I get back are blank stares and finally several folks grumbling, 'never.' We spend time training to do the crucial occupation task, transferring patients and not spend most if not all of our training time on clinical superiority and operations. Departments need to do a far better job teaching providers they get hurt and the best way to prevent it since we are medical movers. The very first thing we should analyze is what the loads we raise do to our body. How much weight is safe to lift? NIOSH has a raise equation and while complicated, it tells us one thing: The weight limit for a person to pick up off the floor is 51 pounds. Deciding on an object off the floor of that weight will set around 764 to 800 pounds of compressive load on the spine. It is if this may seem like a lot. We all know that at around 800 pounds, http://www.cubiczone.net/Forum/discussion/2110/consider-this-common-scenario-your-daddy-can-not-get-out-of-bed-and-into-his-wheelchair-without-hel of an untrained individual (someone who will not work out, is dehydrated, fatigued, or eats poorly) will start to be injured. When was the last time you decided on a 51-pound patient off the floor? Many providers carry a compressive load of over 2000 pounds every day; multiple times per shift. [ ] 1,2, 3 FEMA states in their emergency medical services handbook that lifts should be limited by EMS below the knees. These raises create some of the greatest spinal loads we find in providers. If we step out of the EMS box for a second we are able to look at ' professions going and make the connection that people are just one of the sole professions that permit its workers to regularly lift extreme loads from below the knees often. So when what we perceive to be modest loads actually surpass what our body can manage, it leads to suppliers becoming quite skilled at the dangerous move of lifting from below the knees. [4] Let us take it a step farther and look at lateral transports. Pulling a 105- pound patient via bedsheet between two beds applies of compressive force, while pounds between 832 to 1,708 taking the same patient down a spine . pounds with 1,012 to 1,281 [1,2] Again we often exceed the ability loads placed upon it. or dampen the outside 4 hints for safer lifting (Picture Bryan Fass) 1. Quit lifting in the floor As we educate all our students, "use a tool, usually do not become the tool." Most systems already have the tools on the trucks that could change the lift height. Use your MegaMover(TMark), Reeves(TMark), or Titan(TMark) to alter the elevator height from the ground to nearly knee height, where we are considerably stronger and also have a much better back angle. 2. Use handles for lateral transports Then the friction reducing device is underneath the individual should you follow step one above. Simply slide them around to the hospital bed by means of something that already reduces friction and has handles. The handles mean that on the pull, responders do not need to lean over so far to begin the transport. 3. Work together If and when there are trained personnel on scene, everyone is to the elevator. As a culture EMS and Fire -rescue demand to comprehend that if one person cans hurt, then it merely is sensible that a 350-pound patient needs all hands working together. This goes for your powered cots as well; location two people on the foot of the cot for loading into the truck. 4. Slow down Among my personal favorite expressions in EMS is "it's not my emergency." Only slowing down will enable you and your partner andcrew to get in better lifting places, use tools properly and think ahead to ensure the lift or move is not dangerous for both you and the patient. "Your fitness will save your life one day ... and every day" is my slogan for all of public safety. This is a 100 percent physical occupation and one of the only real items that will keep your own life on scene as well as in life is the physical ability. References 1. A structural equation modelling approach to calling adoption of a patient-managing intervention developed for EMS suppliers. Ergonomics 2013 24;56(11):1698-707. Epub 2013 Sep 24. Monica R Weiler, Steven A Lavender, J Mac Crawford, Paul A Reichelt, Karen M Conrad, Michael W Browne 2. Oregon OSHA. Fire Fighter and Emergency Medical Services Ergonomics Curriculum, www.cbs.state.or.us/osha/grants/ff_ergo/index.html. 3. McGill, S. Low Back Disaorders. 2007, Human Kinetics. P. 218-222. 4. FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ERGONOMICS, A Guide for Understanding and Implementing, An Ergonomics Program in Your Department U. S. Fire Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727