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Referencing the content of EMT-Basic training and emergency patient care

EMT Basic · Chapter 8

Lifting and Moving Patients

Learning objectives (21)

  1. Define the term body mechanics — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  2. Demonstrate the body mechanics and principles required for safe reaching and pulling, including the technique used for performing log rolls — Knowledge/skills objective (print textbook, Chapter 8); confirm wording in your course copy.
  3. Describe proper positioning for the following conditions: — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  4. Describe specific situations in which a nonurgent move may be necessary to move a patient; include how each one is performed — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  5. Describe specific situations in which an emergency move may be necessary to move a patient; include how each one is performed — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  6. Describe specific situations in which an urgent move or rapid extrication may be necessary to move a patient; include how each one is performed — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  7. Discuss how following proper patient lifting and moving techniques can help prevent work-related injuries — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  8. Discuss situations that may require the use of medical restraints on a patient — Knowledge/skills objective (print textbook, Chapter 8); confirm wording in your course copy.
  9. Discuss the guidelines for lifting and moving bariatric patients — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  10. Explain guidelines and safety considerations for the use of medical restraints — Knowledge/skills objective (print textbook, Chapter 8); confirm wording in your course copy.
  11. Explain how to carry patients safely on stairs, including the selection of appropriate equipment to aid in the process — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  12. Explain the general considerations required of EMTs to safely move patients without causing the patient further harm and while protecting themselves from injury — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  13. Explain the importance of decontaminating equipment in the prevention of disease transmission — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  14. Explain the need and use for additional patient-moving equipment (specialized); include examples — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  15. Explain the need and use of the most common patient-moving equipment, the stretcher and backboard — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  16. Explain the power grip and sheet or blanket methods for lifting a patient — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  17. Explain the special considerations and guidelines related to moving and transporting geriatric patients — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  18. Explain the technical skills and general considerations required of EMTs during patient packaging and patient handling — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  19. Identify how to avoid common mistakes when lifting and carrying a patient — Knowledge/skills objective (printed page 273); confirm wording in your course copy.
  20. Perform a power lift to lift a patient. (p 279, Skill Drill 8-1) 2. Demonstrate a power grip — Knowledge/skills objective (print textbook, Chapter 8); confirm wording in your course copy.
  21. Use a scoop stretcher to move a patient. (pp 305–306, Skill Drill 8-11) 16. Demonstrate the correct use of medical restraints on a patient — Knowledge/skills objective (print textbook, Chapter 8); confirm wording in your course copy.

Vocabulary (12)

Power lift
A safe lifting technique using leg strength with the back straight, head up, and weight close to the body.
Power grip
A hand position in which palms face up and fingers are aligned to maximize lifting force and prevent dropped loads.
Body mechanics
The proper use of one's body — posture, leg drive, teamwork — to perform tasks safely and with reduced injury risk.
Log roll
A technique to turn a patient as a single unit, maintaining spinal alignment, when spinal injury is suspected.
Direct ground lift
A two- or three-rescuer technique for lifting a patient from the ground to a stretcher when no spinal injury is suspected.
Extremity lift
A two-rescuer move in which one provider supports the patient under the arms and the other holds the patient's knees.
Draw-sheet method
Transferring a patient using a sheet or slide to move them laterally from one surface to another.
Stair chair
A folding chair-shaped device with handles or tracks used to move a seated, conscious patient up or down stairs.
Scoop stretcher
A stretcher that splits longitudinally into two halves, allowing it to be assembled around a patient with minimal movement.
Long backboard
A rigid full-body immobilization device used historically for spinal motion restriction; modern protocols use it selectively.
Recovery position
The left-lateral recumbent position used for unresponsive patients with adequate breathing to keep the airway clear.
Emergency move
Rapid removal of a patient from immediate danger — fire, water, or scene hazards — even when injury risk exists.

Sequence practice (2 puzzles on Quiz Me)

Performing a power lift

Order the safe steps for a power lift to a stretcher.

  1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, flat on the floor
  2. Squat with back straight, head up, abdominal muscles tight
  3. Grip the object/handle using power grip (palms up)
  4. Stand up using your legs — keep the load close to the body
  5. Reverse the steps to set the load down
Log roll with suspected spinal injury

Order the steps for a three-rescuer log roll onto a long device.

  1. Assign roles — head holder calls the count
  2. Cross the patient's arms over the chest
  3. On the call, roll the patient as one unit toward the rescuers
  4. Quickly inspect the back, then slide the device into place
  5. Roll the patient back onto the device, maintaining alignment

Quick fire sample (12 of 12 on Quiz Me)

A safe lifting technique using leg strength with the back straight, head up, and weight close to the body.
  1. Log roll
  2. Draw-sheet method
  3. Recovery position
  4. Power lift
A hand position in which palms face up and fingers are aligned to maximize lifting force and prevent dropped loads.
  1. Power grip
  2. Power lift
  3. Body mechanics
  4. Scoop stretcher
The proper use of one's body — posture, leg drive, teamwork — to perform tasks safely and with reduced injury risk.
  1. Body mechanics
  2. Long backboard
  3. Direct ground lift
  4. Draw-sheet method
A technique to turn a patient as a single unit, maintaining spinal alignment, when spinal injury is suspected.
  1. Power lift
  2. Log roll
  3. Scoop stretcher
  4. Stair chair
A two- or three-rescuer technique for lifting a patient from the ground to a stretcher when no spinal injury is suspected.
  1. Power grip
  2. Power lift
  3. Log roll
  4. Direct ground lift
A two-rescuer move in which one provider supports the patient under the arms and the other holds the patient's knees.
  1. Emergency move
  2. Extremity lift
  3. Recovery position
  4. Long backboard
Transferring a patient using a sheet or slide to move them laterally from one surface to another.
  1. Power lift
  2. Emergency move
  3. Draw-sheet method
  4. Stair chair
A folding chair-shaped device with handles or tracks used to move a seated, conscious patient up or down stairs.
  1. Long backboard
  2. Body mechanics
  3. Stair chair
  4. Power lift
A stretcher that splits longitudinally into two halves, allowing it to be assembled around a patient with minimal movement.
  1. Scoop stretcher
  2. Extremity lift
  3. Power grip
  4. Log roll
A rigid full-body immobilization device used historically for spinal motion restriction; modern protocols use it selectively.
  1. Log roll
  2. Long backboard
  3. Power lift
  4. Extremity lift
The left-lateral recumbent position used for unresponsive patients with adequate breathing to keep the airway clear.
  1. Recovery position
  2. Emergency move
  3. Long backboard
  4. Body mechanics
Rapid removal of a patient from immediate danger — fire, water, or scene hazards — even when injury risk exists.
  1. Emergency move
  2. Draw-sheet method
  3. Extremity lift
  4. Power lift

Some topics in this course differ across field references. See when sources disagree on Quiz Me before you teach from this sheet alone.

Full scored drills are on Quiz Me at /courses/nm-emt-b/chapters/08/print/. Answers are not marked on this sheet.