As an Emergency Medical Responder, you will most often give care to a patient in the position in which he or she is found. You should move only patients who are in immediate danger. Therefore, you will need to be able to recognize an emergency from a nonemergency situation. Your role will also include positioning patients to prevent further injury and assisting other EMS professionals in lifting and moving patients.
An emergency move is used when there is an immediate danger to you or the patient. These dangers include scene hazards, the inability to reach patients who need lifesaving care, and a patient location or position that prevents your giving immediate and lifesaving care.
Body mechanics is the way we move our bodies when lifting and moving. Body mechanics includes body alignment, balance, and coordinated body movement. Good posture is key to proper body alignment.
In order to lift safely, you should use the power grip (underhand grip). To perform this grip, you should position your hands a comfortable distance apart (about 10 inches). With your palms up, grasp the object you are preparing to lift. The power grip allows you to take full advantage of the strength of your hands, forearms, and biceps.
Safely lifting patients requires you to use good posture and good body mechanics. You should consider the weight of the patient and call for help if needed. Plan how you will move the patient and where you will move him or her. It is also important to remember to lift with your legs, not your back. When lifting with other EMS professionals, communication and planning are key.
Drags are one type of emergency move. When dragging a patient, remember to stabilize the patient's head and neck as much as possible before beginning the move. Also, always remember to pull along the length of the spine. Never restore pull the patient's head away from his or her neck and shoulders. You should also never drag a patient sideways. Carries are the second major type of emergency move. As an Emergency Medical Responder, you should become familiar with the types of carries.
Non-urgent moves are used to move, lift, or carry patients with no known or suspected injury to the head, neck, spine, or extremity. The direct ground lift and the extremity lift are the two main types of non-urgent moves.
The direct carry and the draw sheet transfer are the two primary methods used to transfer a supine patient to a bed or stretcher. In both transfer types, you will assist hospital personnel or another EMS professional. Therefore, teamwork and coordination are essential.
Patient positioning is an important part of the patient care you provide. In some cases, simply changing a patient's position can improve his or her condition. As an Emergency Medical Responder, you should become familiar with the types of positions and when to use them.
Many types of equipment are used to assist in stabilizing and moving patients. In your role as an emergency care provider, it is important to become familiar with the equipment used in your area. Commonly used equipment includes various types of stretchers and backboards, as well as the stair chair.
