Question

A health assistant is helping a patient transfer from a bed to a wheelchair. The patient begins to fall. Which of the following should the health assistant do first?

A.Firmly grab the patient by the arms and guide him or her to the floor.
B. Place a pillow beneath the patient's head and move furniture away from the patient.
C. Place their arms around the transfer belt, pull the patient close, and lower.
D. Report the incident to the immediate supervisor right away.

Answer 1

The first action is to use the transfer belt to safely lower the patient to the ground, keeping them close to minimize injury.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient begins to fall during a transfer from a bed to a wheelchair, the first action a health assistant should take is to ensure the patient's safety as they are being lowered to the ground. In this scenario, option C, Place their arms around the transfer belt, pull the patient close, and lower, is the best initial response. The health assistant should use the transfer belt to control the fall, keep the patient close to prevent further injury, and lower them to the ground safely. After the patient is safely on the ground, reporting the incident and further actions such as assessing the patient for injuries would follow.