Figure 1-27. Technologists with knees flexed and back straight to avoid back injury.
1-14. THE DRAW SHEET PULL (PATIENT UNABLE TO ASSIST)
a. Patient Unable to Assist and Height Disparity. If the patient is unable to
assist in the move or is unconscious, the draw sheet pull method is a convenient means
of moving the patient (figure 1-28). The draw sheet pull is also useful when there is a
height disparity between the stretcher and the X-ray table that cannot be adjusted.
Older stretchers are not adjustable, and even one of the newer adjustable stretchers
that can be pumped up and down may be broken. In some cases, it may be
undesirable to adjust the stretcher. The jarring motion of pumping the stretcher up and
down could aggravate a patient's condition, depending on the nature of the illness.
b. Seeking Assistants. Depending upon the weight, size, and condition of the
patient, you will need to seek the help of one or more assistants (movers). As a rule of
thumb, there should be two to three movers for a light patient and four to six movers for
a heavy patient. When the patient is unconscious or unable to assist, special care must
be taken to fully support the spine, head, and extremities as you move the patient. The
movers must act in unison to ensure that the patient's head and feet move safely with
the trunk.
MD0961
1-27
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