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Lifting the Patient
General tips for safe, professional lifting using a patient lifter
• Understand the workings of the lifter: If you are confident and familiar with the equipment,
your patient will feel safer and be more likely to cooperate with you.
• Be aware of any patient apprehension toward the procedure: Some patients new to
mechanical lifting may be quite uneasy or become distressed. Reassure the patient during the
transfer.
• Be gentle manoeuvring the lifter: A bump to the head with the yoke could be very painful.
Also, watch out for toes and property when wheeling the lifter towards a patient.
• Never leave the patient alone for longer periods of time than necessary in the lifter.
• Ensure that the brakes of the chair, bed or trolley the patient is being lifted from are locked.
The brakes of the lifter must be OFF to allow the lifter to establish its own centre of gravity
over the weight of the patient. This may result in the lifter moving slightly when the patient is
first lifted.
• Before raising the patient, check that the sling attachments are still in place on the yoke or
pivoting frame. Keyhole buckles must be positively locked onto the support studs. Slings
must be properly positioned and aligned under the patient.
• When using Pivot Toileting Slings, ensure the upright positioning buckles are fastened
around the vertical white bar of the pivoting frame.
• If the patient looks uncomfortable or unbalanced, stop immediately. Lower the patient and
adjust the sling. It usually only takes a matter of seconds to correct a poorly positioned sling
and the patient will gain confidence from your care and the transfer will be far safer.
• Once the patient is clear of the chair or bed he/she may be rotated to the correct position
to complete the transfer.
All information is subject to change without prior notice. Photographs are for illustration purposes only and may vary from product description.
Invacare
®
is a registered trademark and Yes, you can.™ is a trademark of Invacare
®
Corporation. 2008 Invacare Asia Pacific
Elf 127em User's Manual
Elf 127em User's Manual
All information is subject to change without prior notice. Photographs are for illustration purposes only and may vary from product description.
Invacare
®
is a registered trademark and Yes, you can.™ is a trademark of Invacare
®
Corporation. 2008 Invacare Asia Pacific
