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EMT Basic · Chapter 8 · Review · Chapter track

Lifting and Moving Patients

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

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.

Chapter web resources

Optional reading from authoritative sites. Your textbook remains the primary source for this course.

When sources disagree (5 topics to verify before you teach from this chapter alone)

Printable study sheetPrintable flashcards (PDF, 10-up)Read first, then practise the track.

Showing Chapter track material. Switch tracks on the chapter page.

Vocabulary · 12

  • Power lift

    A safe lifting technique using leg strength with the back straight, head up, and weight close to the body.

    SourceNIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) — Safe patient handling guidelines

  • Power grip

    A hand position in which palms face up and fingers are aligned to maximize lifting force and prevent dropped loads.

    SourceAAOS — Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 12e — Power grip

  • Body mechanics

    The proper use of one's body — posture, leg drive, teamwork — to perform tasks safely and with reduced injury risk.

    SourceNIOSH — Ergonomics and body mechanics

  • Log roll

    A technique to turn a patient as a single unit, maintaining spinal alignment, when spinal injury is suspected.

    SourceAAOS — Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 12e — Log roll technique

  • 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.

    SourceAAOS — Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 12e — Patient lifting techniques

  • Extremity lift

    A two-rescuer move in which one provider supports the patient under the arms and the other holds the patient's knees.

    SourceAAOS — Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 12e — Extremity lift

  • Draw-sheet method

    Transferring a patient using a sheet or slide to move them laterally from one surface to another.

    SourceAAOS — Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 12e — Lateral patient transfers

  • Stair chair

    A folding chair-shaped device with handles or tracks used to move a seated, conscious patient up or down stairs.

    SourceAAOS — Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 12e — Stair chair

  • Scoop stretcher

    A stretcher that splits longitudinally into two halves, allowing it to be assembled around a patient with minimal movement.

    SourceAAOS — Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 12e — Scoop stretcher

  • Long backboard

    A rigid full-body immobilization device used historically for spinal motion restriction; modern protocols use it selectively.

    SourceNAEMT / ACS-COT joint position statement — Spinal motion restriction

  • Recovery position

    The left-lateral recumbent position used for unresponsive patients with adequate breathing to keep the airway clear.

    SourceAmerican Heart Association — Recovery position — first aid

  • Emergency move

    Rapid removal of a patient from immediate danger — fire, water, or scene hazards — even when injury risk exists.

    SourceAAOS — Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 12e — Emergency moves

Sequences · 2

  • Performing a power lift — Order the safe steps for a power lift to a stretcher.
  • Log roll with suspected spinal injury — Order the steps for a three-rescuer log roll onto a long device.