1. Lifting and Moving

2. Role of the EMR
Sometimes a victim must be rescued from a dangerous situation before care can be given.
Always check a vehicle to stabilize it before providing care.
Always attempt to access the victim in the vehicle by using the simplest approach by trying all doors and windows first.
Always ensure your safety
Wear protective equipment, such as a helmet, gloves, and protective eyewear, to keep you safe.
Several methods of moving a victim can be done simply and with little danger to you or the victim.
Sometimes you may have to use/assist EMS personnel in lifting and moving.
READ FIRST:
Moving a victim is going to be dependent upon the situation you are dealing with. The safety of the scene and the condition of the victim is going to determine how you handle a victim.
The following points are going to outline your role in the removal of or movement of a victim.

3. Body Mechanics/Lifting Techniques
Basic Guidelines for Moving Victims
Only move a victim you can safely handle.
Move as close to his/her body as possible
Bend at knees and hips
Lift with your legs, not your back
Take short steps
Move forward when possible
Look where you are walking
Protect victim’s head, neck, and back.
Communicate with helpers
PLAY VIDEO FIRST: (6 minutes)
This video is going to demonstrate several types of emergency moves.

4. General Considerations for Moving a Victim
The extent of damage at the scene
The size of the victim(s)
Your physical ability
Whether other help is available
The victim’s condition
Threat to life
When in doubt, keep stabilized at the accident site until EMS personnel arrive
READ FIRST:
EMRs must occasionally move victims before advanced personnel arrive. If you need to move some consider the following:

5. General Considerations for Moving a Victim
Situations that might require you to move a victim before providing care
Immediate danger to rescuer or victim
Access to a more seriously injured victim
You must move victim to provide proper care

6. Emergency Moves Fire fighters carry Clothes drag Blanket drag
Conscious and unconscious patients – dangerous situation
Clothes drag
Good for head and neck injuries
Blanket drag
Good for head and neck – move quickly
Shoulder drag
Grasps the victims forearms and drag
Pack-strap carry
Conscious and unconscious patients
Keep arms crossed in front of your body
May require a second rescuer
Emergency moves:
1. The scene is hazardous.
2. Care of life-threatening conditions requires repositioning
Moving a victim to a hard, flat surface for CPR
3. You must reach the another patient
Passenger on the opposite side of car with no access from the opposite side.
To minimize the risk of trauma to the spine, move the patient in the direction of the long axis of the body when possible
Clothes drag
Blanket drag
Shoulder drag
QUESTION:
If using the fire fighters carry what injuries or trauma might you be concerned about.
Spine, fractures, abdominal
Never pull the victim’s head away from the neck and shoulders

7. Non-urgent Moves Direct lift Extremity lift Direct carry
May use more than 1 rescuer
Support neck if possible
Extremity lift
Requires 2 rescuers
Direct carry
Stretcher and bed
Draw sheet method
A Non-urgent move is a move with no immediate threat to life.
READ SECOND:
Some text describe what is called an urgent move:
These are required when the patient must be moved quickly for treatment of an immediate threat to life. The difference between an urgent move and emergency move is the precaution is taken to protect the spine.
Movement
Reasons for urgent move include:
The patient requires treatment the can only be performed if the patient is moved.
Factors at the scene cause a patient to decline.
Direct carry:
Requires to rescore and 2 stretchers. Place one at a right angle to the other. The unused stretcher should be placed with the head of the stretcher at the victims feet. When ready the victim is cradled and swung onto the other bed.

8. Victim Positioning
An unresponsive victim without trauma should be moved into the recovery position.
A victim with trauma should not be moved until additional EMS resources arrive.
A victim with pain, discomfort, or difficulty breathing should be allowed to assume a position of comfort.
EMRs should be ready to manage the victim’s airway.
Place in the recovery position, (left side of body)
Keep the airway open in a victim who is unresponsive without a spinal injury.
Delays vomiting by placing esophagus above the stomach
Delays poison’s effects by retaining the position in the stomach (pyloric sphincter is placed up). Poisons are handled much better in the stomach than in the SI.
Relieves pressure on the vena cava in pregnant women

9. Familiarity with Equipment
Stretchers and cots
Portable stretchers
Stair chairs
Long and Short backboards

10. Key Points
Need to determine the risk of injury to the patient and make a rationale decision on which move is the most appropriate
When there is NO threat to the victim, DO NOT move
Practice these every so often, so that you do not get rusty

11. Skill Practice: Emergency Moves
Bring your skill sheets to the practice area
Get in groups of 3
Practice a walking assist, pack strap carry, two-person seat carry, and clothes drag

12. Assignment Review Chapters 1-6 in the textbook
Review workbook Units 1-6
Complete Assessment Exercise #1 dealing with Chapters 1-6