Moving a collapsed or injured patient:

The condition of a collapsed or inured patient may be worsened by movement, increasing pain, injury, blood loss and shock. However, patients lying on a roadway/railway line etc may need to be moved to ensure safety.

A first aider should move a collapsed or injured Vitim:

• To ensure the safety of both first aider and the patient.
• Where extreme weather conditions or difficult terrain indicate that movement of the patient is essential.
• To make possible the care of airway, breathing and circulation (e.g. turning the unconscious breathing patient onto the side or turning a collapsed patient onto the back to perform CPR effectively)
• To make possible the control of severe bleeding.

All unconscious persons who are breathing normally must remain on the side. It is reasonable to roll a face-down unresponsive patient onto the supine (face up) position to assess airway and breathing and initiate resuscitation. Concern for protecting the neck should not hinder the evaluation process or life saving procedures.

The trained first aider should stay with the patient and send others to seek assistance. If movement is necessary and help is available, the most experienced first aider should take charge and explain clearly and simply the method of movement to assistants, and to the patient if conscious.

When ready to move the patient:

• Avoid bending or twisting the patient’s neck and back: remember, spinal injury can be aggravated by rough handling.
• Try to have three or more people assist in the support of the head and neck, the chest, the pelvis and limbs.
• A single first aider may need to drag the patient (either an ankle drag or arm – shoulder drag is acceptable)
• Make prompt arrangements for transport by ambulance to hospital.

When and how to move a casualty

Movement, increasing pain, injury, blood loss and shock, may worsen the condition of a collapsed or injured casualty. A rescuer should only move a collapsed or injured casualty. To ensure the safety of both rescuer and the casualty, or where extreme weather conditions or difficult terrain indicate that movement of the casualty is essential to make possible the care of Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (e.g. turning the unconscious breathing casualty onto the side or turning a collapsed casualty on the back to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation effectively) to make possible the control of severe bleeding.

All unconscious persons who are breathing must remain on their side.

The trained rescuer should stay with the casualty and send others to seek assistance. If movement is necessary, and help is available, the most experienced rescuer should take charge. Then explain clearly and simply the method of how movement of the casualty will happen to the assistants, and to the casualty if conscious.

Moving a Casualty

If possible, it is always better to move the danger away from the casualty rather than move the casualty away from the danger.

As the first aider does not know if the casualty is suffering from any injury, movement could aggravate the injury unnecessarily.

The first aider should only move an unconscious or injured casualty if:

• Danger is present to both the first aider and the casualty.
• Extreme weather conditions or terrain are present.
• The casualty is unconscious requiring them to be placed in the side position.
• Severe life threatening bleeding needs to be controlled.

If movement of the casualty is required:

• Avoid bending/twisting the casualty's back and neck.
• Avoid movement of the casualty's head.
• Drag the casualty rather than lift the casualty.
• Support any injured limbs.
• Gain the assistance of bystanders if possible.