Safe and on the Move: Transferring Bariatric Patients

The harmful effects of excess weight on an individual’s health have been widely documented, but their extra kilograms can also have direct detrimental effects on the well-being of others.

The most recent statistics available from the CDC for musculoskeletal injuries occurring at work reveal that the rate for ambulance workers is over six times the national average at 238 injuries per 10,000 workers. The single greatest risk factor is manual patient handling and the heavier the patient, the greater the risk.

If bariatric individuals are immobile for whatever reason, moving them becomes a serious logistical problem for the care teams involved, requiring extra personnel for lifting and if possible special equipment.

Bariatric patients often experience mobility problems and even in their own homes, mobility equipment needs to be adapted to help them move around. For the past 20 years, the Danish firm XXL-Rehab has specialized in the engineering and introduction of innovative products functionally designed to aid bariatric patients. Their XXL-Rehab Bariatric Walking Frame supports a maximum weight of 270 kg.