Safe Patient Handling

Safe patient handling is talked about a lot in the nursing circles. It refers to programs, policies and equipment that enable nurses to transfer patients without causing strain or injury to either party. You could break the transfer process down to mechanical and leverage transfers. Neither safe patient handling method allows for lifting of the patient. But few nurses let alone home care people really understand the leverage techniques required to make a transfer safe and simple.

For a procedure to be considered no-lift it must utilize no more than 35 lbs of force to be used during the transfer process. The Balance Pivot leverage transfer technique fits this description for almost everyone unless you weigh more than 350 lbs. The average force required is 18 lbs. and that is supplied by body weight not lifting. There are seven steps to get the person ready to transfer and seven steps to get you ready. Then it happens in seconds with little effort on the part of either party.