Patient Lifts

SAFETY GUIDE

Caregiver Safety Tips............................. 1

Know Your Lift ..................................... 2

Check Patient's Condition ..................... 3

Select Patient's Sling Size..................... 4

Choose Sling and Sling Bar ................... 5

Prepare Environment ........................... 6

Prepare Equipment .............................. 7

Place Patient in Sling ........................... 8

Perform Safety Check ........................... 9

Lift the Patient .................................... 10

Lower the Patient ............................... 11

Patient Lifts at Home ....................12–13

Sling Care ........................................... 14

Patient Lift Care .................................. 15

Contact Information ............................ 16

This guide provides general safety recommendations and is not a replacement 

for the manufacturer’s instructions. Refer to manufacturer’s instructions for 

specific use guidelines.
Caregiver Safety Tips

DO NOT push, pull or lift weight while...

Using lifts for these activities may help caregivers avoid back injury:

 Lifting from floor  Bed-Chair transfer  Lateral transfer

 Toileting/Bathing

Off-balance or 

leaning forward

 Lifting limbs

Twisting and/or 

reaching

 Repositioning

Entrapped in a 

confined space 

Work as close to patient as possible ! to avoid stress of leaning. 

1
Floor-Based, Full-Body Sling Lift

Overhead Full-Body 

Sling Lift

Sit-to-Stand Lift

Know Your Lift

A floor-based, full-body sling 

lift is featured throughout this 

guide; however the information 

applies to all patient lifts.

Motor

Spreader

Handle Footplate

Base Legs

Mast

Wheel

Locking

Wheel

Sling attachment 

points

Push Handle

Remote

Control

Sling Bar

Hydraulic Lift

Battery

Pack

Emergency 

Release

Boom

Patient falls from lifts may cause injuries, ! including head trauma, fractures and death. 

Receive training and practice before operating a lift.

2
Check Patient's

Condition

Before using a patient lift, check:

Patient’s physical capabilities 

 Check to see if patient can assist 

with transfer.

 Check patient’s weight and physical 

condition; use manufacturer's guidelines 

to make sure lift is appropriate.

 Determine how many caregivers are 

required to safely lift the patient.

Patient’s medical condition 

 Make sure you have correct lift 

and sling for patient’s condition.

 Ensure the lift will not make 

the patient’s condition worse. 

Patient’s mental status 

 If alert, ensure patient is able to 

understand and follow instructions.

 Make sure patient is ready to be 

placed in a lift. 

The use of a patient lift should be avoided if the patient 

is agitated, resistant or combative.

3
1 Assess patient’s size, weight and hip measurement. 

2 Choose size of sling based on manufacturer recommendation 

for patient’s measurements. Choosing correct sling size is 

critical for safe patient transfer. 

SLING TOO LARGE:

Patient may slip out. 

SLING TOO SMALL: 

Patient may fall out. 

Sling may worsen 

patient’s condition.

IF BETWEEN SIZES:

Smaller size may keep 

patient more secure.

Select Patient's

Sling Size

Using the wrong sling or attaching the sling incorrectly may ! cause an accident that can result in serious injury or death.

4
U-shaped Full-Body

Choose Sling

and Sling Bar

To increase patient safety, use the correct type and size of sling 

for your patient. Select sling and sling bar based on 

manufacturer recommendations for the following criteria: 

 Type of transfer task 

 Patient’s medical condition 

 Patient’s size and weight 

 Pressure sensitivity

Sling Bars

 Use a sling bar that is appropriate for the patient’s size.

 Choose sling bar/sling combination that will place patient 

at a safe angle. 

 Only use sling with correct clip or loop attachment type 

for the sling bar.

Some medical conditions such as stroke, 

orthopedic conditions, amputations or 

certain wounds may affect sling choice.

 Need for full back support 

 Need for head support

 Need for padding

 Patient’s preferred or medically

appropriate position

Only use a sling specifically designed for your lift. ! Using the wrong sling may cause serious injury.

5
Prepare 

Environment

Determine number of caregivers needed:

 Most lifts require two or more caregivers to safely operate 

lift and handle patient.

Position lift and receiving surface: 

 Move lift base legs near or around patient's device. 

Base legs are usually more stable in full open position.

 Position lift and receiving surface at correct height 

to transfer patient easily.

Clear path for lift:

 Ensure there is space for lift to pivot and 

move freely to receiving area.

 Ensure lift is able to fit under or around 

receiving surface and through doorways. 

For thick carpet, consider choosing a lift with larger 

wheels or placing a plastic floor mat over carpet.

6
Prepare 

Equipment

 Ensure battery is charged for transfer.

 Test lift controls before bringing lift to patient. 

Make sure the emergency release feature works.

 Ensure receiving surface is stable and locked. 

 Ensure slings, hooks, chains, 

straps and supports are 

available, appropriate and 

correctly sized.

 Check lift and sling weight 

limits. Ensure patient's 

weight does not exceed 

the limits. 

 Examine sling and 

attachment areas for tears, 

holes and frayed seams. 

DO NOT USE sling with 

any signs of wear.

Do not use lift to transport patient unless ! lift is specifically designed for transport.

7
Place Patient 

in Sling

1 Place patient in sling.

 Position center of sling under patient’s spine.

 Place leg straps flat under patient; do not let material fold. 

 Make sure sling opening is not large enough to let patient slip out 

or too small to let patient fall out.

2 Lower sling bar down to patient. Do not let sling bar hit patient. 

3 Attach sling straps to sling bar 

as directed by manufacturer. 

 Use matching loops from each 

side to ensure sling is balanced. 

Choose loops that provide best 

angle and position for patient. 

 Ensure all clips or loops are 

secure and will stay attached 

as patient is lifted. 

 Ensure straps are not twisted.

 Ensure patient's head and/or 

back is supported, if needed.

Using the wrong sling or attaching the sling incorrectly ! may cause serious injury to the caregiver or patient.

8
Perform 

Safety Check

Before lifting the patient, perform safety check:

 Examine all hooks and fasteners to ensure they 

will not unhook during use.

 Double-check position and stability of straps 

and other equipment before lifting patient.

 Ensure clips, latches and bars are securely 

fastened and structurally sound.

For electric lifts, make sure batteries are always charged.

9
Lift the Patient

1 Lift patient two inches off the surface to make sure 

patient is secure. Check the following:

 Sling straps are confined by guard on sling 

bar and will not disengage. 

 Weight is spread evenly between straps. 

 Patient will not slide out of sling 

or tip backward or forward. 

2 Check patient's comfort:

 Make sure sling does not pinch 

or pull patient’s skin.

 Ask if patient is comfortable.

 Look for non-verbal signs 

of discomfort.

3 Slowly lift patient, only as high as 

necessary to complete transfer. 

Check the following: 

 Patient is still comfortable. 

 Sling will not hurt patient's skin.

Do not leave patient unattended while in lift. Never keep ! patient suspended in sling for more than a few minutes.

10
Lower the Patient

1 Use gentle hands-on pressure to guide patient as you slowly 

move lift toward receiving surface.

2 Slowly lower patient toward receiving surface. Move patient's 

body into correct position on receiving surface before releasing 

patient's weight.

3 Release patient's weight. 

Do not let sling bar hit patient.

4 Detach sling from lift using 

manufacturer’s instructions.

5 Carefully remove sling from 

patient's body, if necessary. 

 Be careful not to hurt 

patient’s skin.

 Ensure that seated patients 

do not fall forward as sling 

is removed.

If power fails, use the emergency 

release to lower patient manually. 

Holding or supporting patient’s weight while in sling ! may cause straps or hooks to detach from lift.

11
PATIENT

LIFT 

MANUAL

Place Patient 

in Sling

Place patient in sling

Position center of sling under patient’s spine.

Place leg straps at under patient; do not let material fold. 

Make sure sling opening is not large enough to let patient slip out.

Attach sling straps to sling bar as directed by manufacturer. 

Use loops 

that provide 

best angle and position for patient.

Using the wrong sling or attaching the sling incorrectly 

may cause serious injury to the operator or patient. !

Ensure all clips or loops are secure and 

will stay attached as 

patient is lifted. 

Ensure straps are 

not twisted.

Make sure head 

is supported, 

if needed.

9

Patient Lifts 

at Home

 Get training from 

a qualified medical 

professional before 

operating a patient 

lift at home.

 Keep manufacturer’s 

instructions close to 

your lift and always 

follow them.

 Have a back-up plan 

in case your lift stops 

working properly.

 When selecting a lift 

for home use, ensure 

you have the required 

number of caregivers 

needed to operate 

the lift.

12
Never operate a lift by yourself if the lift requires ! more than one person for operation.

Patient Lifts 

at Home

 Make sure you recognize and understand 

the alarms and error messages. Always 

follow through when you hear an alarm.

 Call your supplier or manufacturer 

if you need help or have a problem 

with the device.

 Keep children and pets 

away from lift.

13
Do not share slings between patients unless 

slings are properly washed and disinfected.

Disinfect and scrub 

areas that contact 

patient's skin.

Do not bleach. 

Do not iron.

Air dry only. 

Do not machine dry.

Throw away used 

disposable slings.

Follow manufacturer sanitation and 

wash instructions. Remove metal or 

plastic reinforcements if required. 

Sling Care

Disinfect slings after every use. !

Do not use slings that are frayed, ripped or have holes. ! If sling shows signs of wear, replace it immediately. 

14
Patient Lift Care

Follow manufacturer instructions to clean and disinfect lift.

Always clean lift before and after each patient use.

 Disinfect all lift surfaces.

 Wipe off traces of disinfectant.

 Clean motor casings and ceiling tracks if using an overhead lift.

15
Contact

Information

LIFT MANUFACTURER

Name:

_______________________________

_______________________________

Phone:

_______________________________

Web Site:

_______________________________

_______________________________

SUPPLIER

Name:

_______________________________

_______________________________

Phone:

_______________________________

Web Site:

_______________________________

_______________________________

If you have problems operating your lift, 

contact the manufacturer or supplier.

If you experience an injury, quality problem, or use error when using a patient 

lift, we encourage you to file a voluntary report at 1-800-FDA-1088 or online 

through MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting 

program at www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch.

CARE PROVIDER

Name:

_______________________________

_______________________________

Phone:

_______________________________

16
This product is for informational purposes 

only and is not a substitute for professional 

training or advice. Kwikpoint assumes no 

liability for any action(s) a user may or may 

not take as a result of using this product. 

There are no express or implied warranties 

regarding the information contained in 

this product. This publication was created 

by Kwikpoint 703.370.5527 • 571.319.0500 

www.kwikpoint.com • KP9-MED-VUG43