How to Lift and Transfer Patients Safely

Course Description:

In this online training session, employees will learn how to identify patient-handling hazards, understand basic rules for safe patient lifts and transfers, use mechanical lifting and transferring equipment to avoid back injuries, prepare properly for patient lifts and transfers, and use safe techniques in a variety of patient life and transfer situations.

Why “How to Lift and Transfer Patients Safely” Matters:

Healthcare workers are more likely than other workers to be injured on the job. More than half of those injuries require time away from work. Many of the injuries involve stress on the body during lifting, transferring, and repositioning patients.

• Because of stress on the body during patient handling, healthcare workers often develop musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), such as muscle and ligament strains and tears, joint and tendon inflammation, pinched nerves, and herniated disks.
• Workers’ compensation costs for the healthcare industry amount to over $1 billion per year, in addition to needless pain and suffering, and disruption of work and home life.

Key Points:

• Patient-handling duties can lead to back injuries and other painful stress injuries, strain, and pain if you’re not careful.
• Use lifting and transferring equipment whenever possible.
• Get help when necessary to avoid overexertion.
• Use proper patient lift and transfer techniques to protect yourself and your patients.