Likewise, you need to discuss to the affected person’s physician earlier than utilizing a gait belt. Belts can interfere with catheters, feeding tubes, and other medical devices, and you’ll need clearance from a doctor before using these units on patients with these apparatuses. When using a affected person transfer belt, do not forget that you’re utilizing a mobility help gadget, “help” being the operative word. Make certain that the belt is mounted securely and all the time maintain a layer of clothes between the belt and the affected person’s pores and skin. Keep your again straight and stay near the patient during movement. The purpose of a gait belt is to assist sufferers transfer on their own energy, and utilizing a gait belt improperly could end in an harm. Regardless of which product you select, you should carefully examine patient switch belts prior to every use. Don’t attempt to repair them, even when the required repairs seem fairly simple. I would completely recommend this belt to everybody, no matter the amount of use. We use it always except when my shopper is asleep in mattress, and we only go through one every 4 years or so. From walking, working round exterior, and rolling round on the floor to repositioning, lifting and transferring, we put so much on this belt. OSHA advises towards utilizing a gait belt if a affected person is uncooperative or if they do not have strength in their higher extremities. When moving patients, transfer their weight to their strongest side utilizing a rocking-and-pulling movement (versus a lifting motion). Made with 100% cotton webbing, this patient transfer belt doesn’t pack on unnecessary options; it’s simply a high-high quality belt with practical considerations for caregivers. It’s expandable to both 60 or seventy two inches dependent on the model, with a built-in loop to keep the excess portion of the belt out of the best way. A steel buckle retains the belt securely in place while permitting for quick administration. However, as any hospital worker can attest, patient switch belts vary in high quality and features.