Emergency Lifting Procedures

When someone has been injured, you should normally avoid moving him. However, some situations call for moving the injured person to avoid further injury. Move her as gently and as little as possible. Sudden movement can induce or aggravate shock, or cause broken bones to puncture blood vessels. However, if you must move an injured person, follow the proper procedure.

Minimize Further Injury

• When moving an injured person, first check him for wounds or broken bones. According to the Marine Corps Guidebook, you should always attempt to control bleeding before doing anything else as long as the victim can breathe. Locate the site of the injury and assess the damage. Apply pressure to the wound or to the largest artery above the wound. Tourniquets (tight bands that will stop circulation to a limb) should not be used except as a last resort. If a limb has been wounded, try to elevate the wound above the heart before moving. This will slow the loss of blood.

  Check for broken bones. Common signs of fracture include distorted limbs, localized swelling or internal bleeding, numbness at the break site and pain during movement. If you notice a broken bone, don't try to reset it yourself. The ends of a broken bone can be razor-sharp. Instead, use a stick or other straight object and tie a splint to the bone at both sides to support it and keep the break from moving farther.

Moving the Injured

• Several different methods of moving an injured person exist, depending on the extent of the injury, the environment and the distance you have to move. The fireman's carry, in which you carry the person balanced across your shoulders, allows you to travel longer distances and distribute weight more evenly, and is most common except in the case of bone fractures. However, because it involves manipulating the arms and wrist, don't use it in the event of a fracture. Never move someone who you suspect of having a broken spine or neck.

  If no fracture exists, you can do the fireman's carry by turning the person onto his stomach, wrapping one arm around his waist and lifting him to a standing position. Use your leg muscles, not your back. Grasp the wrist closest to you with your free hand, lift it and loop the arm over your shoulders. Bend down and reach between his legs. Wrap your arm under his thigh, but don't try to carry him by supporting the knees. Hoist the person onto your shoulders. One of his arms and one of his legs will dangle freely. Balance his torso as evenly across your back as possible.