Check the Injury before Moving the Person

If your loved one is injured and the injury involves his or her neck or back, DO NOT move your loved one unless absolutely necessary. Call for professional medical emergency services or 9-1-1.

Make Sure the Injured Person Has to be Moved

If the injured person must be pulled to safety, for example, he or she is lying in a public place, move the person to a safer or less busy area slowly and carefully. Pull the person’s body gently lengthwise, not sideways. If possible, slide a coat or blanket under the person and pull the coat/blanket as the way of moving the person.

Moving an Injured Person

Placing an injured person on a blanket:

1. Carefully turn the person toward you and slip a half-rolled blanket under his or her back.
2. Turn the person on his or her side over the blanket, unroll, and return the person onto his or her back.
3. Drag the blanket by the top (where the person’s head is lying) first, keeping your back as straight as possible.

If the injured person must be lifted:

1. Support each part of the person’s body. Have another person help you provide support at the injured person’s head, while you support the injured person’s feet (or vice versa). Use a board, shutter, table top or other firm surface to keep the injured person’s body as level as possible.

Wait until the appropriate emergency medical personnel arrive on the scene.