I have been asked by a friend who works for a patient transport service if there is a maximum weight of a patient that would be reasonable for a single operative to push in a wheelchair on and off an ambulance. I know there are location, environment, individual limitations etc that will apply but was wondering if any colleagues in Healthcare settings use a rule of thumb maximum patient weight limits for wheelchair transporting activities?

quote=Ashc]I have been asked by a friend who works for a patient transport service if there is a maximum weight of a patient that would be reasonable for a single operative to push in a wheelchair on and off an ambulance. I know there are location, environment, individual limitations etc that will apply but was wondering if any colleagues in Healthcare settings use a rule of thumb maximum patient weight limits for wheelchair transporting activities?

Ian, a sensible answer I think. I would also hope that the training would include this subject and how to reach a valid judgement in each case.

No Ron, you have got the wrong end of the stick. My point does not relate to the growing obesity epidemic, but to those who might need the weight of a patient in order to know that he or sahe is too heavy to move without assistance, and ever more so up or down stairs, over rough ground, etc etc. Do not focus only on the patient. Remember the conditions in which the individual is to be moved, and the abilty of the staff who might need to give some thought to the problem and work it out for themselves. It is the fact that perhaps some do not believe that the latter is a reasonable skill required of ambulance staff that makes me sigh heavily. So, to put it another way for you, have we really come to the time when ambulance staff cannot look at a patient, assess their weight and the tools they have available, the requirements of any lift and the conditions that may affect safe lifting, and then deal with it safely?

Got you now Ian. Of course "dealing with it safely" (within the limitations of the people and kit avialable) could mean......not doing it? (with reference to the kind of incident in that hyperlink above). Then there are the other pressures: what I believe I can safely do -v- what I am told I must do.

Ron It does not mean 'not doing it'. If you were to take that stance, or encourage others to do so, you would almost certainly and quite reasonably should be heading for robust professional and regulatory sanction, dismissal and public disapprobation, if not vilification. How about dealing with it, if necessary, be seeking appropriate assistance? Is that what you meant? Ian