Things to Know About Transporting Obese Patients

Patient transportation in itself is a great deal. One must know the patient's condition and the right vehicle to make safe transportation. The situation becomes even trickier when transporting obese patients. As you may have guessed, their weight makes the situation more delicate; thus, transporting obese patients must be done very carefully to ward off any risks.

When transporting obese patients, one must do so with dignity and respect. Do not make them feel guilty about their weight. Remember that obesity is a condition, and disabled people cannot help it as they cannot indulge in pilates, yoga or gym.

Choosing the right kind of bariatric transport service is the best option available to the family members. You need not worry about their safety as the professionals will take care of that. However, you must choose the right service to ensure your loved one does not feel pain or humiliation.

Whether you wish to make the transportation yourself or have hired a service, knowing some tips for transporting obese patients will help you.

Tips that Make Transporting Obese Patients Easy

  • Respect and Dignity

It is very important to treat everyone around you with respect, especially individuals who have a medical condition. Do not give them a bad feeling about themselves or make them feel like they are your burden. This is the basic, and you must master this tip before we move on to the more practical ones.

  • Don't Hurry

Transporting obese patients requires time and patience. Do not wish to accomplish the task in a hurry. Therefore, make sure you have ample time when doing this. Think about the entire situation before making a move and anticipate the obstacles that might come your way. This way, you can tackle all the problems precisely and without much trouble.

  • Opt for an Appropriate Transportation

Transporting obese patients is not the easiest task, and thus you must consider the right transportation system depending on the height and weight of the patient. If you think fitting your patient in a regular car can be a problem, opt for NEMT services that offer wheelchair transportation for seniors. Such vehicles are spacious enough to fit both the patient and the wheelchair. However, when hiring them for obese people, make sure you mention their weight.

Traveling by car is not always the best option for patients as they lack any additional safety equipment. Therefore, choose a vehicle that will suit the needs of your patient.

  • Transferring From Bed

Transferring patients can be tricky, and it is all the more difficult if you do not have the required training. However, if you plan to do the transfer yourself, keep the technique in mind and talk to professionals.

Do not use a cot that cannot hold your patient's weight. Services that offer transport for seniors have the best equipment and will get the most suited cot for your patient.

Transferring the right way is very important when transporting obese patients. Do not try to lift the patient. Rather use a slide or a waffle air mattress. Be very careful when making the transfer so as not to cause any injury or pain to the patient.

  • Ask for Help

Do not try to undertake the job of transporting obese patients all by yourself. Ask for help and make sure you explain to them the procedure before the task. Estimate the amount of help you need and call only people who you think will be best for it. Do not overcrowd the room or the way out. It will only create confusion and may even cause a dangerous accident.

  • Position of the Vehicle

Keep the vehicle close to the door and in a direction that will make loading and unloading easier. For example, if the van has a back lift system, keep it facing in the opposite direction so that you can access the back without going all the way around. 

Similar Link: Why Stretcher Patient Service is a Boon for Many Patients

Transporting obese patients is not easy for non-professionals and might even cause the patient and the carrier injury and pain. Therefore, it is best to call for professional help or take sufficient training. That being said, one must realize that transporting obese patients these days is not difficult, and with the latest mechanism, they can enjoy life and get the best treatment just like anybody else.

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