Chapter 8: Lifting and Moving Patients

What is the first rule of lifting?

• Twist slowly when you lift

• Keep your back in a straight position

• Bend at the waist to pick something up

• Use your arms to do most of the lifting

When lifting a stretcher using the power lift, you should:

• bend at the hips, knees, back, and arms

• bend at the waist and keep your back straight

• place your hands palms up on the litter handle

• place your hands palms down on the litter's side bars

It is impractical to apply a vest-type extrication device on a critically injured patient to remove him or her from a wrecked vehicle because it:

• takes too long to correctly apply

• does not fully immobilize the spine

• cannot be used on patients who are in their car

• does not provide adequate stabilization

Proper guidelines for correct reaching include all of the following, EXCEPT:

• avoiding twisting your back

• avoiding hyperextension of your back

• keeping the back in a locked-in position

• reaching no more than 30 inches in front of your body

Proper guidelines for correct reaching include all of the following, EXCEPT:

• avoiding twisting your back

• avoiding hyperextension of your back

• keeping the back in a locked-in position

• reaching no more than 30 inches in front of your body

When two EMTs are lifting a patient on a long backboard, they should:

• lift the patient from the sides of the board

• make every attempt to lift with their backs

• position the strongest EMT at the foot of the board

• position the strongest EMT at the head of the board

Which of the following techniques is considered to be an emergency move?

• Extremity lift

• Supine transfer

• Firefighter's drag

• Direct ground lift

To extract a patient from the basement of a building, you must transport the patient up a flight of stairs. In doing this, you must ensure that:

• the elevated head of the backboard goes first

• the backboard with the elevated foot end goes first

• the backboard is slightly tilted to the left to distribute weight

• the patient's feet are higher than his or her head, whichever end is carried first

If an injured patient needs to be moved but is not in immediate danger from fire or building collapse, you should first:

• order the equipment you need for extrication

• check the patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation

• remove the patient with the rapid extrication technique

• determine the number of people you will need to move the patient

The rapid extrication technique is a:

• nonurgent technique to remove a patient from a vehicle

• technique used to transfer a patient from a bed to a stretcher

• technique used to lift a patient with no suspected spinal injury onto a stretcher

• technique used to quickly remove a patient from a vehicle and onto a backboard