| Getting from here to there is a part of our everyday | | | | a hospital, a wheelchair is used. |
| lives, as we depend on our legs, feet, sight, strength of | | | | Another area of potential liability is in the lifting and |
| our muscles, and a million other factors we never take | | | | movement of bariatric patients. In this case, it is the |
| a moment to consider. But when someone is ill, getting | | | | safety of nurses and orderlies that must be |
| around isn't so easy anymore. | | | | considered along with the safety and comfort of the |
| In an automobile accident, one of the first things that | | | | patient. |
| will be unloaded from the ambulance is a back board | | | | Lifting a severely obese patient can injure arms, backs |
| with neck brace. Placing an accident victim on a | | | | and shoulders, leading to extended periods of |
| backboard can mean the difference between weeks | | | | recovery time or even hefty compensation claims for |
| or months of physical therapy to overcome injuries; or | | | | injuries sustained in the workplace. In order to mitigate |
| a lifetime of paralysis. | | | | the risk of injury to staff, specially designed |
| For reasons related to both safety and liability, the use | | | | wheelchairs, stretchers, lifts and scales have been |
| of wheelchairs is standard procedure in hospitals. How | | | | designed with the larger patient in mind. Hospital |
| many times has each nurse or orderly heard "It's okay, | | | | administrators must protect both staff and patients by |
| I can walk!"? However much a patient may protest, | | | | having adequate patient transport equipment. |
| when being transferred from one location to another in | | | | |