SAFETY TIP'S FOR CAREGIVER TO AVOID BACK PAIN OR INJURIES

Techniques in lifting a patient in a safest way's and effective. this

Method can be use always in all matters in performing lifting, whether

Lifting patient nor Lifting things, that has various quantity of weight that

can lead to injuries or risk for the lifter nor caregiver. Do you know that

sometimes when lifting even a light weight things can cause injuries and

put you in risky situation if not done properly.

Before engaging for lift, things to do as followed: 

1) Stretching your muscles and joins, by means of warming up prior to lifting or

transferring,this can help you to avoid injuries. Or lessen injuries if inevitable

case happen. Did you know, even all athletes made this method as their protection

against injuries as well as making the muscle more flexible to protect bones and lessen injuries. 

2)Always put all necessary things in place before doing the lifting,like
placing the chair in proper place near the bed if transferring the patient
from bed to chair or wheel chair. to the position you are comfortable
to turn from left or right with your body and neck properly align with your spine.
 

3)Avoid bending towards the weight that will result a stress or tension
of your back and sometimes can lead to risk and worse injuries that
can result to permanent discomfort of back pain, sometimes paralyze.
Always remember that our back bone is the reason why we are standing, so keep precaution always when lifting things.

Things to keep in mind, performing this task always result to back pain nor

back injuries, if not done in a proper way.

1)Lift and transfer the patient from bed to chair or vice versa.
2)Changing diaper in bed or giving bath in bed for the patient.
with the bed lower from your waist and leaning over for
a long period of time. 
 
Note:
tips in handling this no.2 task is simple, and easy to do, if the bed is adjustable in position shifting of the height,like up and down position shifting,with button controller,or manual. position the bed level, level to your waist,this will help prevent you as a caregiver, in any back pain or injuries while changing patient diaper or giving bed bath, because you'll not lean for long period of time doing the task,because the level of the bed is level with your waist. if in case the bed is not adjustable.you can request for it,for your safety,as well as comfortable as a caregiver doing the task,if not provided,the option that you can access,is by wearing a belt support, this belt support can prevent your back from back pain or injuries,due to leaning for long period of time while performing the task,and also you can wear the belt support in lifting or transferring the patient from one place to the other or vice versa, or even lifting heavy thing's,you can at all times wear the belt support for your protection against back pain or injuries. there will be two kinds of adjustable bed,the adjustable bed room bed and the adjustable bed bathing bed. with this adjustable bed's,is the safety advantages for you as a caregiver when doing the changing diaper or giving bed bath.
  

This techniques that are proven for safety and effective for the caregiver when 

performing lifting and transferring the patient. as follow below.

      

• Maintain the proper alignment of your neck and head that aligned
  to your spine straight.
• Head and neck must be properly aligned with your spine and
  straight,and maintain it until lifting is done.
• Keep patient constantly near or close to your body and don't bend
  back or side either forward.
• Don't use the back muscle in lifting, always use the leg muscle for lifting.
• wear belt support at all times when lifting or transferring patient from one place to the other. 
• If you think that there will be a risk to both of you and the patient  by performing the lifting or doubt.always ask for help.     

   

    Note:  Put all things in place when transferring the patient from bed to wheel Chair, 

              or to an ordinary chair,put the chair or wheelchair near in bed left or right to the position you  wanted for the patient to be 

transfer 90

degree angle,in chair with arms in both side, you must to slant the chair a bit so it

     will be 85 degree angle near in bed,you must to be sure the the seat 
of the chair

   is facing the patient, and close to both of you and the patient. if in case the

       patient can help to stand let the patient stand up slowly to help you turn from

  side towards the position of transferred point from A TO B or vice 
versa.

Safety consideration prior in lifting or transferring patient.

1) Always remove the armchair and chair leg of the wheelchair
prior lifting transferring. the armchair and chair leg that on
the side of the patient that must be remove and on the opposite
side is the armchair and chair leg that on your side will remain
because that side will be point to block the patient from falling
and it easy for you to transfer with no risk.

2) Always locked the wheelchair in both wheels to avoid falling.
 if it is not locked, it can be dangerous to both of caregiver
and the patient,it could slide when you are in the middle of lifting 
and could out position the wheelchair in the middle of pivot transfer,
so always locked the wheel of the wheelchair when performing transferring
of patient,either from bed to wheelchair or wheelchair to bed or vice versa.

Note: always bear in mine, safety first prior to any lift or transfer of patient,take your

time,and always be present of mine before doing all this lifting nor transferring patient

from one place to another.

MAKE IT A GUIDE ALWAYS, THAT SAFETY FIRST,IN DOING LIFTING TASK

OR TRANSFERRING PATIENT, FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER ,LEARN THE

BODY MECHANICS,NOT STRAINING YOUR BACK, IN FACT BACK INJURY

CAN LAST FOR LIFETIME AND SOMETIMES CAN END YOUR CAREER IN

CARE GIVING,UNDERSTAND THE CAPABILITIES OF THE PATIENT AND THE

HEALTH OF THE PATIENT, WHAT HE OR SHE CAN DO AND DOESN'T, AND

AS A CAREGIVER YOU ARE ALWAYS HAVE A DOOR TO OPEN FOR SAFETY,

IF YOU DO IT PROPERLY IN EFFECTIVE MANNER.      BY:J.LE