This guide applies to lifting small children who are under the weight guidelines and unable to weight bear
- ALWAYS HAVE BRAKES APPLIED ON EQUIPMENT BEFORE COMMENCING A TRANSFER
- IF YOU ARE WORKING BELOW WAIST HEIGHT IT MIGHT HELP TO KNEEL DOWN
- WHEN LIFTING A CHILD KEEP THEM LEANING FORWARD TO AVOID EXTENSOR THRUST
Lifting from lying on the floor
Equipment
1 person/2 people
Method
- Kneel down close to the side of a child next to his hips
- Put one arm under child’s shoulders and assist into sitting, supporting child’s head with your forearm
- Lift knee up behind child’s back
- Slide arm further down the child’s back gripping their hip
- Place other hand underneath the child’s thighs and lift up to hold close to you
- Rest child on your raised knee if needed
- Hold child close and lift to standing or pass to second adult
Adult standing lower child onto floor (lifting)
Equipment
1 person
Method
- Adult standing, holding child close with one arm around back holding child’s hip and supporting head. With other hand under child’s thighs
- Adult hold child close while kneeling down onto one knee, then both knees making a sloping lap
- Place child on adult’s lap and allow them to slide down so that their bottom is on the floor
- Moving further away while supporting the child’s head / shoulders to recline them into a lying position
Child from sitting in wheelchair to floor (lifting)
Equipment
1 person
Method
- Brakes on wheelchair, undo foot straps
- Adult standing or high kneeling close to chair – may raise one knee if it helps them not to twist
- Remove lap strap
- Place arm across child’s back gripping their hip
- Place other hand underneath the child’s thighs and lift, bringing close as soon as possible
- Adult hold child close while kneeling down to make a sloping lap
- Place child on lap and allow them to slide down so that their bottom is on the floor
- Moving further away while supporting the child’s head / shoulders will recline them into a lying position
Lifting standing child
Equipment
1 person/2 people
Method
- Adult high kneeling, child standing, place arm around child’s back gripping their hip
- Place other hand underneath the child’s thighs, bringing in close
- Raise one knee then stand or pass to second adult
Child from wheelchair (lifting)
Equipment
Chair
(1) = Lead Adult
(2) = Supporting Adult
Method
- Wheelchair brakes on
- (2) Remove foot-straps
- (1) Remove chest strap if there is one check (2) is ready
- (1) Remove lap-strap, ensure child’s arms are forward to help maintain flexed position (knees towards chest)
- (1) Place hands around child’s trunk with good grip around ribcage, do not lift under arms
- (2) Place hands underneath child’s thighs
- (1) Say ‘Ready Steady Lift’ keeping child flexed to prevent extension thrust
Child to wheelchair (lifting)
Equipment
Chair
(1) = Lead Adult
(2) = Supporting Adult
Method
- Wheelchair brakes on
- (1) Hands around child’s trunk with good grip around ribcage, do not lift under arms
- (2) Hands underneath child’s thighs
- Keep child flexed to prevent extension thrust
- Move to chair (should be close, preventing need to walk any distance)
- (1) Stand close to side of chair, towards the back
- (2) Stand close to chair at the front
- (1) Say ‘Ready Steady Down’ keeping child flexed and aim child’s bottom for the back of the seat
- (2) Place child’s feet on the foot plates
- (1) Do up lap-strap and chest strap if there is one
- (2) Do up foot-straps
Child to chair (lifting)
Equipment
Wheelchair
1 person
Method
- Brakes on wheelchair
- Adult standing, holding child close with arm across child’s back gripping hip and other hand underneath the child’s thighs
- Move as close to chair as possible and bend legs so that you are able to seat child into chair with their bottom to the back of the chair. Consider kneeling or move feet apart to widen base in order to prevent having to bend your back.
- Do up lap strap
- Do up foot straps