SUPPLEMENT: Safe Patient Handling & Movement: Sling Safety

As efforts continue to address healthcare worker’s safety through the implementation of safe patient handling programs and their associated technologies, it is inevitable that potential for error and subsequent accidents to patients and staff will increase. Whatever type of hoist is used, 2 key potential areas of risk to the safety of the patient and the user persist: the actual hoist itself and the sling that is attached to it. This supplement focuses on the latter of those 2 elements and provides an educational tool on sling safety that aims to increase the reader’s knowledge base, confidence, and security when using slings with his or her patients.

Murray E, Monaghan HM