Lifting the injured person is the first step in their transfer and the early stage of emergency medical care. This is the procedure for lifting the injured (patient) onto a stretcher.
The equipment used in developed emergency services, such as shovel stretchers, allows for safe lifting of injured individuals with fewer personnel. When such devices are not available, other methods can be used (as described below).
Due to only moving stable injured personnel (except in special circumstances), lifting is usually not carried out in emergency situations; In order to respect the prime time of rescue, emergency actions are sometimes taken. This depends on the organization and specific situation of medical services.
Every effort must be made to avoid worsening unstable trauma. The head, neck, and chest axes must be kept straight to protect the spine, and emergency personnel must maintain the patient's body stability (feet cannot move) during the lifting process.
Emergency personnel must bear the weight in an uncomfortable position. Therefore, emergency personnel are at risk of injury, especially in the lower back. To avoid injury, they must push with their legs (Quadriceps) to keep their back as straight as possible.
Preparation of Stretcher
The stretcher must be unfolded, the hinge must be fixed and tested: emergency personnel use their knees to press the fabric at several points. When using a vacuum mattress, it must be placed on a stretcher and spread evenly. Due to hypothermia being the main risk of injury and death, blankets are often used. The blanket must be wrapped around the wounded to avoid heat leakage from below (this is unnecessary when the stretcher has a mattress, such as a vacuum mattress, or an ambulance stretcher). To do this, place the blanket before lifting the injured person and fold it in a specific way:
When laying blankets, the diagonal should be along the axis of the stretcher;
Place the corner at the center of the stretcher;
Then roll the folded part towards the stretcher direction;
Then place these rolls under the blanket so that they do not automatically unfold; These corners protrude, so they can be pulled.
Use of shovel stretchers
Even in the case of spinal trauma, using a shovel stretcher can be safely lifted by only two team members. Therefore, it is recommended to use this device in most operations.
However, in many cases, what is missing is not people, but equipment. In addition, shovel stretchers do not allow the injured to maintain their legs up or in a semi seated position. Due to these reasons, other methods may still be needed.
Vertical lifting method
A safer method to place the injured person on a stretcher is to use a vertical lifting method, consisting of five emergency personnel, including the person in charge. The injured person was lifted out by four emergency personnel:
The captain has one knee down and one knee up, holding his head; He/she can grip it by sliding his/her fingers under the head and placing his/her palms on both sides of the head; Alternatively, he/she can place one hand under his/her neck, grip the occipital bone, and place the other hand under his/her chin;
The first team member will support themselves on the shoulder of another team member and step over the injured person; He/she placed his/her hand under his/her shoulder;
The second team member supported themselves on the shoulder of the other team member and stepped over the injured person; He/she placed his/her hand under his/her buttocks;
The third player holds his ankle;
The fourth team member pushes a stretcher.
Team members must have sufficient distance between their feet so that the stretcher can slide between them. If the captain uses a pillow chin clamp,