What can you use instead of a gait belt?
EZ Lift Vest
The EZ Lift Vest is an excellent alternative to the gait belt because it provides balance, leverage, and control of the entire upper torso. The Vest may also be beneficial in decreasing back, wrist, and shoulder injuries to caregivers and is an ideal manual device for lifting and transferring patients.
Do gait belts work?
Although no randomized clinical trials have been conducted that prove gait belts reduce falls and injury, it’s easy to see how they can help with walking and transferring, providing a valuable prevention strategy.
What is a standard size gait belt?
Standard belt fits waist sizes: 24 to 52 inches. Long belt fits waist sizes: 53 to 70 inches. Constructed of: 2 inch wide cotton webbing.
How do you lift someone from the floor with a gait belt?
Using both hands, firmly grasp the gait belt on either side and straighten both knees as you lift the patient up. To help someone walk while wearing a gait belt, stand behind and to the side of the person. Using an underhanded grip with your palm towards you, firmly grasp the loop on the back of the gait belt.
Do gait belts reduce falls?
A gait belt is a device that helps to prevent falls. A weakened person, such a patient in the hospital, is at risk for falls while walking or moving from a bed to a chair or from sitting to standing. Gail belts can also help the person get into or out of a car.
How do you measure for a gait belt?
The belt is also used to help hold up a weak person while they walk. Putting this belt around a person’s waist allows helpers to grip it and keep the person from falling….How to Measure for and Apply the Gait Transfer Belt.
| MEASURE AROUND THE WAIST | |
|---|---|
| LARGE | 60” (152.4 cm) |
| X-LARGE | 72” (182.88 cm) |
| 2X-LARGE | 100” (254 cm) |
Where should a gait belt be placed?
Place the belt with the buckle in front of the person’s mid section. The buckle should be positioned slightly off center in the front to make it more comfortable. The belt should be placed over the care recipient’s clothes, rather than directly on the skin.