How do you lift a patient's body from the floor?

Answer 1

The very best way is with a hoyer lift (place/roll the person onto a special sling that attaches to a lift; like a mini crane). If that is not available, then two people stand on either side of the person, hook their arm under the armpit of the patient/elderly person and lift. Be careful to keep your feet shoulder width apart and bend at the knees, not the waist or even the smallest elderly person can ruin your back.

Answer 2

You don't! First, ascertain whether they are conscious. State you are there to help; talk to the person. Check for Respiration, Heart Rate, Bleeding. Control bleeding. (If Heart Rate is low, remember the person could pass out on you if you try to get them up or up too fast.) Second, check for injuries; if injured, keep the person on the floor until you have help and/or an ambulance there. Third, if injured, do not put their head on any 'pillow' (like TV shows do)--you cannot know if they have a neck injury. If laying on their side or belly, do not turn the person; you do not know if they have a hip injury. Cover with a blanket or coat; keep them still until help arrives.

On the other side...

If the person is conscious, appropriately responsive, with normal Respirations and Pulse, has NO bleeding and is possibly already trying to get up on their own, after you introduce yourself and do a quick assessment, ask if they'd like your help. It is a tort or assault to touch a person without permission. If they say yes, explain how you will help and make sure you can do it safely. Tell the person "On a 1, 2, 3 count, I will do X while you do that", such as, "On a count of 3, rise up onto your knees while I support you, but do not try to stand yet." When the person has 1 foot flat on the floor, instruct them to push with their other leg while you support them, until they have both feet on the floor and are standing. Do not let go until you know the person has gained their balance. Have the person sit on a chair to rest, while you assess them further. At any time, interrupt this process if you believe the person needs medical care--call an ambulance.

On the other side...

If a person needs more hands-on assist, is frail, etc., you may need to do a 1-person lift. Only proceed if you are fairly certain the person is not injured. First, move a chair off to one side, beside the patient. Remember to half-kneel (one knee down) and lift/stand with your legs, not your back. Instruct the person to put their arms on your shoulders and grasp their hands behind your neck... while you put your arms around their waist just above their hip bones (NOT the ribcage--you can break ribs) and clasp your hands behind their back (or as close as possible). Tell the person "I need our bodies close together and touching chest to chest--do not pull backward or let go of me until we both have our feet under our bodies." As you stand, make sure you set your feet spread at a wide base and as you stand up, bring the person's body up with you. Stand together holding each other until you are sure the person is steady. When steady, pivot the person, instructing them to sit in the chair--do not let go of them until their rear is firmly on and in the chair. Make sure to bend at your knees as you lower the patient.

If moving to a bed...

Once the person is seated on the bed, do not let go. Lift their body up and back so their rear is further back on the bed, and the backs of their knees against the bed frame. Switch so one arm is around their upper body, one arm still around their waist...lower their head toward the bed... as the upper half goes down, reach under the person's knees and lift the legs into the bed and instruct they can let go of you (which will normally happen as you lower their top half). This is the most awkward/difficult maneuver, but can be done safely with practice. Make sure to bend your knees to protect your back.

OTHER

If a person is on the floor but it is unsafe to wait (such as fire)...but they are injured or too heavy to lift, you can do a body roll onto a blanket (keep neck stabilized during roll). Then, instruct the person to have both arms across their chest ("hug yourself") and wrap the blanket around them, tucked securely under the person's body on both sides. Lift the blanket at the head and drag the person to a safe area. Note: You may need to be seated on the floor to drag, using your legs to push yourself backward so the weight is not centered on your arm strength. Once in a safe area, keep the patient in the blanket roll until help arrives.

NOTE! If the fall occurred during your shift at an employer, as soon as the person is safe, make sure you fill out an "Incident Report" (places use different names for this form). Describe only what YOU saw, said, DID, and if anyone else witnessed the incident. IF YOU did NOT see the person fall, do NOT say "he fell". Instead, describe the first moment you were aware of the person, such as: "As I exited the elevator, I observed Mrs. ___ lying on her right side on the hallway floor about 5 feet to the right of Room Number __." Or.. "While passing trays, I heard a loud thump, turned around and saw Mr. ___ face down on the floor outside his room." Describe IN DETAIL what you did to assess the person for injuries BEFORE doing anything else. Then, describe what you DID. Include in quotes anything the person said, like, "I put on my robe and slippers then tripped; my foot came out of my slipper." Or, "I don't know what happened--everything got dark, I was dizzy--and next thing, I woke up on the floor." Make sure to include clock times, like at 3:07pm, and date / sign the report. Make sure witnesses fill out a separate report.

Answer 3

How a medical person would lift a patient from the floor would depend on several factors, such as:

• Can the patient comprehend directions?
• What is the patient's level of consciousness?
• Is the patient physically able to assist with the lift?
• Does the patient have full use of all limbs? For example, a stroke patient would need more assistance.
• Does the patient have any acute issues at the time? For example, if the patient is dizzy, resulting in a fall, you'd need more help with the lift.
• In all circumstances, the worker would do an assessment before attempting a lift. Check for injuries, cuts, red marks, fractures, etc. Check pulse and respirations. If able, check blood pressure.

  If a patient is conscious, can follow directions, and is completely able to assist, the medical worker could stand in front of the patient, with a chair or bed close to the side of the patient. The worker would place his or her arms (the worker's arms) directly at/under the patient's underarms, and the worker would grasp his or her own hands / forearms around the patient's front. One mistake many workers make is that they only put their hands under the underarm; this is an unsafe method and can dislocate the patient's shoulder joint. Instruct the patient, "On a count of 3, I'll help lift you. When I say 3, stand up with both feet flat on the floor." The worker should be sure to plant his or her own feet at a wide stance, for stability. Once the patient is up, don't let go until you are certain that the patient is steady.

  With an amputee, instruct the person to stand on the remaining leg. For a stroke patient with one-sided paralysis, you'd instruct the patient to stand on the unaffected leg. Then in either situation, you'd pivot the patient to the chair or bed. The biggest mistake workers make for a lift-pivot is that they don't bring the bed or chair close enough to pivot-sit. The pivot motion should smoothly end with the patient seated safely on the chair or bedside. If into bed, once the patient is seated, you'd move one of your arms under the upper back and one under the patient's knees to swing the legs up into the bed. Lifts with an amputee or stroke victim take practicce to do safely and correctly.

  If a patient was unconscious or unable to follow directions, a 2-person or 4-person sheet-lift is best. Important: You will already have done an assessment for injuries. Leave the patient on the floor while another worker grabs a sheet or blanket; folded in half is easiest to use. Lay the sheet beside the patient, using the mid-point of the sheet folded in layers against the body, as if doing an occupied bed change. Roll the patient away from the sheet; pull or push (depending on which side you're on) the sheet so that the mid-point of the sheet is under the patient. Gently lay the patient again onto his or her back; roll the patient to the opposite side and pull the layers of sheet through so that the patient is centered on the sheet. Each lifter should again fold/roll excess material up to the patient's sides, keeping the material firmly within the workers' fists. Instruct the patient to fold his or her arms across the chest, or the worker may have to do this positioning. You need the patient's arms and hands inside the sheet, so that when the workers lift, the entire patient is supported by the sheet. On a count of 3, all workers should lift as a team and move the patient to the bed. Note: You could also do a Hoyer Lift but sometimes it is more convenient to just use a blanket or sheet. You should always pick the best method for the individual's situation.

  Trained workers can also do a human "chair lift" for conscious, cooperative patients. If the patient is on his side, have him roll onto his back. Kneel behind him and lift the head and shoulders so that the patient is supported against the worker's chest / upper body. Worker #2 would first position the patient's legs, bent at the knees, feet on the floor. Worker #2 would slip a hand behind the patient's back, while worker #1 (supporting the patient) would move to the patient's side while also keeping one hand around the patient's back. Worker #1 and #2 should overlap and lock their arms; i.e. worker #1 grab worker #2's forearm while worker #2 grabs worker #1's forearm. Both workers with their free arms would each slip their arms under the patient's knees, forming a "basket" in which the patient is enclosed. On a count of 3, both workers would use their legs to lift (not their backs), then stand up while holding the patient. They should move quickly to the bed after both workers are steady. All movements should be communicated and initiated "on a count of 3". The first biggest mistake in the basket lift is not using the correct workers--each should be about the same height and strength. The second biggest mistake is that the workers do not allow themselves enough time to steady themselves after standing up. Moving too fast and not communicating to the other worker about intended movements can cause injuries to either or both workers and to the patient. Work quickly but safely, always telling the other worker what action will be done next.

Answer 4

To lift a fallen person, make them feel wanted they fell for a reason and you need them to feel wanted.