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Patient Lifts
Part of U.S. Food and Drug Administration
USOfficial or government body
This describes who publishes a source, not how reliable it is.
Open source (opens in a new tab)Link checked August 2026
About this source
The US regulator's safety page on patient lifts and slings: what they are, what goes wrong when they are used improperly, and the best practices for using one safely.
Where this source is used
Used in 1 place across 1 domain.
Questions
Support
Caregiver Coordination
- How can a caregiver help with transfers safely, including using a hoist or sling?
Supports this
“Using a hoist or sling wrongly, including the wrong sling for the person and not putting the brakes on, can be dangerous.”
The regulator's safety page says improper use of patient lifts causes falls that have led to serious injuries and deaths. Two of the best practices it lists are matching the sling to the lift and to the person's weight, and locking the wheels of whatever the person is being lowered onto. It says nothing about sling loops.
Patient falls from these devices have resulted in severe patient injuries including head traumas, fractures, and deaths.
Patient Lifts
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