Backbreaking work. What you need to know about lifting and back safety in EMS

Geraldine did not look very heavy, but she was wedged between the toilet and bath-tub. She had slipped while getting out of the tub and was complaining of severe hip pain. The room was only big enough for me, my partner and Geraldine, who needed to be lifted up and out of the room to the cot in the hallway. The question at hand was how to keep Geraldine as pain-free as possible while protecting our own backs during the lift and move. Nearly every patient contact involves lifting and carrying equipment and patients, which applies forces that can potentially injure your back. In this article, we explore lifting and back safety for EMS providers.