How to help the patient move with transfer belt?

Patients, who are unable to stand up or walk without support in their daily life, constantly need something for their assistance. In order to avoid mobility and circulatory issues, they have got to overpower this problem. Aged people or patients with disability witness difficulty due to the chances of falling and/or stumbling. To help people ambulate easily without the need of a second person’s assistance, transfer belts are used.

Points to Be Considered while Using Transfer Belts

The ailing person must be made to wear rubber slippers with a non-slippery sole.
It is essential to wear loose, comfortable and warmer clothes which facilitate easy movement.
There must be proper supply of oxygen to the patient.
A cane stick or a walker with self help wheels must be provided to the patients.

Procedure of using Transfer Belt for Helping Patients in Ambulating

The patient’s bed must be positioned onto the lowest possible level and the wheels must be locked.
Whenever you help patients to sit upright over the bed, help them to hold the edge of the bed and keep still for some time. This will prevent dizziness after waking up.
After some time, help them wear transfer belt. Hold them by their biceps while they sit facing you. They must keep their hands alongside their legs and place their feet on the floor.
Thereafter, ask them to bend a little forward putting the weight of their entire body on upper half of the body. Then make them stand up gently, so that their respiration becomes normal.
Help the patient with a cane stick or walker to walk after some time.
While the patient takes their first step to walk, be there to support them if required.
In case you notice any change in patient’s respiration or if they feel weak, then do not let them walk and make them sit on the bed again. Make them rest and feel comfortable.
Ensure that you remove the patient’s transfer belt once s/he returns to the bed.
After the patient is on the bed, wash your hands properly with soap and lukewarm water.

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What does an examiner notice?

If you have dressed the patient in comfortable clothes and have made him/her wear rubber slippers?
If you have locked the wheels of the patient’s bed?
Whether you have tied the transfer belt to the patient properly?
Did you assist the patient in standing up and sitting down?
Whether you help patient walk.
If you prevent any such situation in which the patient could fall down, slide or shuffle.
Whether you made the patient walk for the distance that was prescribed, when s/he could bear it.
Did you remove the transfer belt of the patient after placing him/her on the bed again?
Whether you washed your hands after the complete procedure.

Expert’s Tips

Here are a few important points one must remember while demonstrating this skill:

While applying transfer belt to the patient, maintain your body balance.
Do not forget to lock the wheels of the wheelchair or bed while executing this activity.
After shifting the patient back to bed, unlock the wheels of the bed / wheelchair.
Make the patient feel comfortable and secure throughout the process.