Pearson Ch6 Case Study

You are participating in a training drill with your department. This is your first training​ drill, and you are a little anxious about how you will do in front of the​ other, more experienced responders. Your scenario is a​ 47-year-old man who has fallen off a ladder while painting the ceiling in an upstairs bedroom. You and your partner ensure a safe​ scene, don proper personal protective​ gear, obtain the necessary equipment to assess the​ patient, and go upstairs. Your patient is sitting against the wall holding his right knee and complaining of severe knee pain. He states that he​ "stepped wrong" while climbing down the ladder and felt his knee pop as he fell. He denies any other injuries. The patient appears to weigh around 250​ pounds, and there are three flights of stairs to descend. Are additional resources required to move this​ patient? What factors will you consider when making this​ decision?

Additional resources are required to safely move this patient. The patient is a larger​ man, with an injury. Moving him safely and comfortably down the three flights of stairs will require more responders.

You are participating in a training drill with your department. This is your first training​ drill, and you are a little anxious about how you will do in front of the​ other, more experienced responders. Your scenario is a​ 47-year-old man who has fallen off a ladder while painting the ceiling in an upstairs bedroom. You and your partner ensure a safe​ scene, don proper personal protective​ gear, obtain the necessary equipment to assess the​ patient, and go upstairs. Your patient is sitting against the wall holding his right knee and complaining of severe knee pain. He states that he​ "stepped wrong" while climbing down the ladder and felt his knee pop as he fell. He denies any other injuries. The patient appears to weigh around 250​ pounds, and there are three flights of stairs to descend. After you have successfully carried the patient down the​ stairs, how will you get him from the stair chair to the​ gurney, given his​ injury?

Depending on the pain level of the​ patient, several method may be appropriate. You could assist the patient to a standing​ position, keeping the weight on the uninjured​ leg, then move the gurney behind him. Using a​ two-person lift might also​ work, taking care to protect the injured knee.

You are participating in a training drill with your department. This is your first training​ drill, and you are a little anxious about how you will do in front of the​ other, more experienced responders. Your scenario is a​ 47-year-old man who has fallen off a ladder while painting the ceiling in an upstairs bedroom. You and your partner ensure a safe​ scene, don proper personal protective​ gear, obtain the necessary equipment to assess the​ patient, and go upstairs. Your patient is sitting against the wall holding his right knee and complaining of severe knee pain. He states that he​ "stepped wrong" while climbing down the ladder and felt his knee pop as he fell. He denies any other injuries. The patient appears to weigh around 250​ pounds, and there are three flights of stairs to descend. What techniques are important to use when lifting a​ patient? How would you protect yourself from injury during a complex physical task such as​ this?

Proper body mechanics are important when lifting a patient. Using the strong muscles of your legs and core to​ lift, rather than bending at the​ waist, protects the muscles in your back from injury. Keeping the weight close to your body and minimizing any twisting motions helps to keep you balanced and in control while lifting a patient.

You are participating in a training drill with your department. This is your first training​ drill, and you are a little anxious about how you will do in front of the​ other, more experienced responders. Your scenario is a​ 47-year-old man who has fallen off a ladder while painting the ceiling in an upstairs bedroom. You and your partner ensure a safe​ scene, don proper personal protective​ gear, obtain the necessary equipment to assess the​ patient, and go upstairs. Your patient is sitting against the wall holding his right knee and complaining of severe knee pain. He states that he​ "stepped wrong" while climbing down the ladder and felt his knee pop as he fell. He denies any other injuries. The patient appears to weigh around 250​ pounds, and there are three flights of stairs to descend. How many rescuers would you want to safely move this patient down the​ stairs? How would you position each rescuer during the​ move?

The minimum number of rescuers required to safely use a stair chair is three — one at either end carrying the​ chair, and one behind the person at the feet who acts as a spotter. With a patient of this​ size, and a long​ descent, you could have two people on either end of the​ chair, for a total of​ four, plus one spotter. Having more rescuers also allows responders to​ "swap out" if they become fatigued.

You are participating in a training drill with your department. This is your first training​ drill, and you are a little anxious about how you will do in front of the​ other, more experienced responders. Your scenario is a​ 47-year-old man who has fallen off a ladder while painting the ceiling in an upstairs bedroom. You and your partner ensure a safe​ scene, don proper personal protective​ gear, obtain the necessary equipment to assess the​ patient, and go upstairs. Your patient is sitting against the wall holding his right knee and complaining of severe knee pain. He states that he​ "stepped wrong" while climbing down the ladder and felt his knee pop as he fell. He denies any other injuries. The patient appears to weigh around 250​ pounds, and there are three flights of stairs to descend. What piece of equipment will you use to move this patient down the​ stairs, and​ why?

The stair chair is the most appropriate device to use when moving this patient. The stair chair allows responders to safely carry the patient down the​ stairs, while minimizing excessive movement of his injured extremity.