FISDAP Patient Lifting, Moving, and Transport — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In which situation is an EMERGENCY move justified even before spinal precautions are applied?
- The patient is complaining of neck pain after a vehicle collision
- The scene is on fire and the patient cannot be assessed in the current location (Correct answer)
- The patient is ambulatory but disoriented
- The receiving hospital is requesting expedited transport
Correct answer: The scene is on fire and the patient cannot be assessed in the current location
Emergency moves are performed when there is an immediate threat to life — fire, hazardous materials, inability to access a patient in cardiac arrest, or an unsafe scene. The risk of spinal injury from moving must be weighed against the certainty of death if the patient is not moved. Life safety overrides spinal precautions.
Question 2: When using the power lift technique, which body position best protects the EMT from back injury?
- Bend at the waist with legs straight and lift with the back
- Keep the back curved, legs bent, and lift with arms
- Keep the back straight, feet shoulder-width apart, and lift with the legs (Correct answer)
- Twist at the waist to redirect the load during the lift
Correct answer: Keep the back straight, feet shoulder-width apart, and lift with the legs
The power lift (squat lift) keeps the back straight and in a neutral position, feet shoulder-width apart, with the weight lifted by extending the legs. This transfers the load to the stronger leg muscles and minimizes compressive forces on the lumbar spine, preventing disc injury.
Question 3: A patient is found face-down in a narrow hallway after a fall from standing. There is no immediate threat to life. What is the correct technique to move this patient?
- Drag the patient by the ankles to a wider area
- Use a log roll with manual spinal stabilization to place the patient supine (Correct answer)
- Sit the patient up first, then assist them to stand
- Apply a cervical collar and then drag by the shoulders
Correct answer: Use a log roll with manual spinal stabilization to place the patient supine
A log roll with a minimum of two providers (one maintaining inline stabilization of the head/neck) is the standard technique to move a patient from prone to supine while maintaining spinal motion restriction. Dragging by ankles or shoulders creates axial torque on the spine.
Question 4: The recommended maximum weight for a two-person carry to protect EMTs from injury is approximately:
- 100 lbs (45 kg)
- 150 lbs (68 kg) (Correct answer)
- 250 lbs (113 kg)
- 400 lbs (181 kg)
Correct answer: 150 lbs (68 kg)
General EMS ergonomic guidelines recommend that no individual should lift more than approximately 45 kg (100 lbs), meaning a two-person team can safely manage up to about 150 lbs (68 kg). For heavier patients, additional personnel, mechanical lifts, or bariatric equipment should be used to prevent musculoskeletal injuries.
Question 5: A stair chair is MOST appropriate for which of the following patients?
- An unconscious trauma patient with suspected spinal injury
- A conscious, cooperative patient with chest pain and no suspected spinal injury who must be moved down stairs (Correct answer)
- A patient in cardiac arrest requiring CPR during transport
- A patient with a femur fracture who requires traction splinting
Correct answer: A conscious, cooperative patient with chest pain and no suspected spinal injury who must be moved down stairs
A stair chair allows a conscious, cooperative patient to be moved safely down stairs while remaining seated. It is NOT appropriate for unconscious patients, spinal injury patients (who require a long backboard or scoop stretcher for spinal neutrality), or patients requiring active resuscitation.
Question 6: Before moving a patient from the ground to the stretcher, the EMT should first ensure the stretcher is:
- At its highest position to minimize the distance the EMT must carry the patient
- At its lowest position to minimize the lifting distance (Correct answer)
- Positioned perpendicular to the patient at all times
- Locked in the raised position inside the ambulance
Correct answer: At its lowest position to minimize the lifting distance
Lowering the stretcher to its lowest position before transferring a patient from the ground minimizes the vertical lifting distance, significantly reducing the strain on providers' backs and the risk of dropping the patient. The stretcher is then raised after the patient is secured.
FISDAP Patient Lifting, Moving, and Transport
In which situation is an EMERGENCY move justified even before spinal precautions are applied?