table of contents hs-emergency medical responder

Table of Contents

Body MechanicsHS-Emergency Medical Responder

Table of Contents

1. Proper Body Mechanics Go2. Moving Patients Go3. Positioning Patients Go4. Equipment Go

Body MechanicsTA

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Lesson 1 – Proper Body Mechanics

Body Mechanics◦ Moving and

positioning of the body

◦ Proper body mechanics: Increases efficiency Reduces risk of injury

◦ Incorrect body mechanics Can cause pain, fatigue,

and even disability

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Lesson 1 – Proper Body Mechanics

Physical Fitness◦ For proper body

mechanics, must be physically fit

◦ Exercise regularly Stretch Weights Cardiovascular

◦ Eat nutritiously

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Lesson 1 – Proper Body Mechanics

Posture – Standing◦ Proper body

mechanics begins with good posture

◦ Guidelines

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Lesson 1 – Proper Body Mechanics

Posture – Sitting

◦ Guidelines

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Lesson 1 – Proper Body Mechanics

General Guidelines◦ Know physical

abililities◦ Get help when

needed◦ Use equipment◦ Position feet on firm,

level surface◦ Explain plan to

patient

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Lesson 1 – Proper Body Mechanics

Reaching Guidelines◦ Keep back straight

and lean from hips◦ Don’t reach more

than 15-20 inches in front of body

◦ Avoid strenuous effort over one minute

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Lesson 1 – Proper Body Mechanics

Lifting Guidelines◦ Bend at knees◦ Use two hands◦ Maintain firm grip◦ Use legs, not back to

lift◦ First lift, then turn◦ Do not twist

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Lesson 1 – Proper Body Mechanics

Carrying Guidelines

◦ Use two hands◦ Maintain firm grip◦ Keep weight close to

body◦ Keep back straight

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Lesson 1 – Proper Body Mechanics

Pushing & Pulling Guidelines

◦ Push rather than pull◦ Use two hands◦ Push from the area

between your waist and shoulders

◦ Keep elbows bent◦ Push from kneeling if

weight below waist◦ Avoid pushing or pulling

from overhead position

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Lesson 2 – Moving Patients

EMR Role in Moving Patients◦ Move only when truly

needed◦ Recall primary focus◦ Situations where

necessary◦ Assist higher level

providers in lifting and moving patients

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Lesson 2 – Moving Patients

Types of Moves

◦ Emergency move

◦ Urgent move

◦ Non-urgent move

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Lesson 2 – Moving Patients

Emergency Moves◦ Patient must be

moved at once because of immediate danger Scene Patient in critical

condition◦ Patient blocking

access to another patient in critical condition

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Lesson 2 – Moving Patients

Types of Emergency Moves◦ Provide as much

protection to spine as possible

◦ 4 types of one-person emergency moves Shoulder-forearm drag Shirt drag Blanket drag Firefighter’s drag

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Lesson 2 – Moving Patients

Urgent Move

◦ Patient must be moved quickly due to immediate threat to life

◦ Situations

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Lesson 2 – Moving Patients

Non-urgent Moves

◦ Patient moved when ready for transport

◦ Allow for assessment and treatment completion

◦ Best way

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Lesson 2 – Moving Patients

Types of Non-urgent Moves◦ Patient moved onto

patient carrier device Direct ground lift Extremity lift Direct carry Draw sheet method

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Lesson 3 – Positioning Patients

EMR Role in Positioning Patients◦ Move only when

needed◦ If possible, wait for

higher level providers

◦ May need to position patient in certain situations

◦ Assist as requested

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Lesson 3 – Positioning Patients

Patient Positions◦ Depends on patient’s

condition Supine Lateral Fowler’s

◦ Follow local protocols◦ Use proper body

mechanics when positioning patients

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Lesson 3 – Positioning Patients

In the supine position, patient lies face-up with arms at sides

Suspected spine injury – placed on long backboard in supine position

Shock – placed in Trendelenburg position

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Lesson 3 – Positioning Patients

Lateral position

◦ On side

◦ Recovery position

◦ Fetal position

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Lesson 3 – Positioning Patients

Fowler’s Position

◦ Sitting

◦ Makes breathing easier

◦ When on stretcher, more comfortable

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

EMR Role and Equipment◦ Not responsible for

patient transport◦ May assist as

requested by higher-level EMS

◦ Be familiar with equipment

◦ Follow local protocol

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

What equipment to used depends on patient’s condition, weight, environment and help available

Should make move safest and easiest

Follow local protocols Use proper body

mechanics

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Types of Equipment◦ Wheeled stretcher◦ Portable stretcher◦ Orthopedic stretcher◦ Flexible stretcher◦ Basket stretcher◦ Stair chair

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Wheeled Stretcher◦ Has undercarriage

with wheeled legs◦ Can be rolled◦ Metal frame◦ Restricted to smooth

terrain◦ Safest and easiest

way to move patients

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Two rescuers can roll patients on wheeled stretchers

Method

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Carrying Patients on Wheeled Stretchers◦ Two rescuers can

carry patients on wheeled stretchers over curbs

◦ Four rescuers preferred to carry over rough terrain

◦ Two-person carry method

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Patient on wheeled stretcher loaded into ambulance

Method

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Portable Stretcher◦ No undercarriage◦ More compact and

lightweight◦ Must be lifted and

carried◦ May fold for compact

carrying and storage

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Carrying Patients on Portable Stretchers

◦ Four rescuers preferred

◦ Method for four rescuers

◦ Method for two rescuers

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Loading Patients on Portable Stretchers

◦ Patients may be loaded into ambulance on portable stretcher

◦ Method

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Orthopedic Stretcher◦ Splits into two or four

sections◦ Used with

musculoskeletal injuries and conditions

◦ Compact◦ Does not support

spine injury

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Flexible Stretcher◦ Made of flexible

material◦ Compact◦ Lightweight◦ Must be lifted and

carried

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Basket Stretcher◦ Made of rigid

fiberglass or metal that surrounds patients on three sides

◦ Used to carry patients over rough terrain

◦ Must be lifted and carried

◦ Also known as Stokes stretcher

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Stair Chair◦ Used to carry patients

up and down stairs◦ Should be used instead

of stretchers on stairs◦ Method◦ Should not be used

with unresponsive patients, suspected spine injury, lower extremity injury, altered mental status

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Backboards◦ Flat boards used to

immobilize patients

◦ Two types Long Short

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Long Backboard◦ 6 to 7 feet long◦ Immobilizes entire

body from head to feet

◦ Patient lying down◦ Also known as

longboards

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Short Backboard◦ 3 to 4 feet long◦ Used to immobilize

top part of patient’s body

◦ Patient in sitting position

◦ Also known as shortboard

◦ Kendrick Extrication Device (KED)

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Lesson 4 – Equipment

Power-lift position◦ Uses proper body

mechanics Power grip

◦ Gets maximum force from the hands

Power-lift & power grip provide safe and stable move

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Transport & Pt. Moving Equipment

Emergency Non-Urgent