manual handling Flashcards
(26 cards)
Why is manual handling important in healthcare?
Prevents common injuries like back and shoulder strain.
What is the “No Lift” policy?
Avoid lifting a patient’s full weight; use aids or assistance instead.
Common causes of injury?
Sudden strain, repetitive movement, poor posture.
Patient-related risk factors?
Confusion, aggression, dependence, fragile skin, attachments.
Load-related risk factors?
Weight, shape, size, texture, temperature, and predictability.
Environmental hazards?
Slippery floors, poor lighting, clutter, equipment.
What do you assess in the patient?
Strength, balance, cognition, communication, pain, medical status.
Body posture for lifting?
Feet shoulder-width, back straight, bend at knees.
Use which muscles to lift?
Leg and hip muscles — not your back.
Never lift a patient by…?
Their underarms — may cause injury.
Examples of manual handling tasks?
Repositioning, toileting, mobilising, assisting balance.
What’s “active” movement?
Patient moves voluntarily on their own.
What’s “passive” movement?
You move the patient’s limbs for them.
Name 4 manual handling aids.
Slide sheets, hoists, pat slides, lifting belts.
What is a pat slide used for?
Horizontal transfers between beds or stretchers.
What is a slide sheet used for?
Reduces friction when repositioning in bed.
What is clinical waste?
Blood, body fluids, contaminated items.
Bin colour for clinical waste?
Yellow
General waste goes in which bin?
Semi-opaque white bin.
Colour of cytotoxic waste bin?
Purple
Colour of radioactive waste bin?
Red
What goes into the sharps bin?
Needles, scalpel blades, any sharp object.
Should you re-cap needles?
Never — risk of needlestick injury.
Key features of a sharps container?
Puncture-proof, leak-proof, biohazard label, wide opening.
