Moving Patients

Tom RaderStaff - June 8, 2021

Coming Soon…
[See the full post at: Moving Patients]

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I’m a bit confused as this lesson does not seem to make reference to different techniques (video shows one only) nor precautions/safety concerns.

 

There are more videos in the “topics” underneath this lesson. Click to expand in the side bar navigation, or look just above this comment area in the body.

 

This topic feels like a good start but incomplete. I’ve seen a patient moved purely for comfort (hot pavement) resulting in injuries that took a year to heal. There needs to be more emphasis on why the patient usually should not be moved. Some questions I still have after watching all of the videos in this section:

1) How to perform a risk assessment for moving the patient? In Andy Palmer incident, for example, how would I know that he could survive 15 minutes of being carried down the hill without bleeding out on the way?

2) What are the most common ways that a patient is harmed by moving? How can each of these potential harms be mitigated?

3) Different approaches to moving the patient were demonstrated. What are the advantages of each that would help us decide between them?

I very much like the “case study” approach taken for the documentation/SOAP section. Telling a complete story leads to better understanding than just hearing about a technique in isolation.

 

Great question(s), Eric.
Can patients sustain further injuries from moving them?  Sure.  Can we try to minimize those risk factors by taking in considerations such as the mechanism of injury, known/obvious current injuries presenting, environment (not just weather/altitude/location, but available resources such as EMS/SAR too), and even available tools or personnel to assist.

In some of the videos and lessons, we present just the skill itself.  By presenting an isolated skill, hopefully that helps provide folks with more “tools in their toolbox” so to speak.  That way they can make the best decision based on the information they have at that time.  I totally understand that there are several possible scenarios or even positive & negative-outcomes that could result from performing any of these skills.  It is always a good thing when folks ask detailed questions like you have.  However we may not be able to cover all potential scenarios in this one program.  Let me put together a few more thoughts while I try to answer your specific questions.