Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

10 Lifting and Moving

If the patient is being placed on a stretcher. On command, lower the patient onto the stretcher. If available, have another person slide the stretcher into position under the patient. If the patient is being carried. • On command, rotate the patient towards you so that they are resting against your chest. • On command, stand up together, lifting the patient as one unit. • Walk forward together, line abreast, staying in step to minimize jarring the patient.

Using a Stretcher Using a stretcher is a coordinated effort. If the stretcher bearers do not synchronize their movements and take care it can result in jarring, or in some cases dropping, the patient. For this reason, one person is always in control of the stretcher, and the other bearers follow their commands. • Soft, non-rigid stretchers may only be used for a patient that has no suspected spinal injury. • Prepare and pad the stretcher before placing it alongside the patient. • The stronger person should be at the head of the stretcher, the heavier end. • The person in command will ask if all the bearers are ready and upon receiving affirmatives will say • “Prepare to lift on 3. - 1...2...3 Lift”

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