Which safety measure should you use with the bed and wheelchair?

Which safety measure should you use with the bed and wheelchair?

• A. Wheelchair wheels unlocked
• B. Raise the bed high with rails up
• C. Keep the bed low and its wheels locked
• D. Move the patient without assistance

Answer: (C)

Keeping the bed at a low height and locking the wheels on both the bed and the wheelchair create a stable, controlled environment for transfers and repositioning. A low bed reduces the distance of a fall and makes it easier for you and the patient to move safely, while locked wheels prevent the equipment from rolling or shifting during the process. Raising the bed high increases fall risk and relying on rails alone isn’t a substitute for stability, and moving the patient without proper assistance can lead to injuries. Together, a low bed and locked wheels provide the safest, most controlled setup for safely handling a patient.

Keeping the bed at a low height and locking the wheels on both the bed and the wheelchair create a stable, controlled environment for transfers and repositioning. A low bed reduces the distance of a fall and makes it easier for you and the patient to move safely, while locked wheels prevent the equipment from rolling or shifting during the process. Raising the bed high increases fall risk and relying on rails alone isn’t a substitute for stability, and moving the patient without proper assistance can lead to injuries. Together, a low bed and locked wheels provide the safest, most controlled setup for safely handling a patient.