12 Essential Steps to Remember for Slide Sheet Use

A slide sheet is a common piece of manual handling equipment in the healthcare and aged care industries. They are used to move patients horizontally on beds and shower trolleys, making patient lifting and transfers safer and more effective.

Sliding sheets come in a wide range of different sizes and designs, and they may be padded or unpadded based on the patient’s needs. Plus, sliding sheets can be used multiple times on the same patient, making them an economical choice for patient transfers. 

While slide sheets are simple to use, they do require training to avoid lifting failures, patient injuries and carer injuries. In this article, we share recommendations and advice on how to use a slide sheet in a safe manner.

What is a slide sheet used for?

Slide sheets are used to lift and transfer patients from one bed to another, but can also be used on seats, wheelchairs and in the bathroom. This useful aid eliminates the need for lifting a patient, deterring unnecessary patient and carer injuries. 

Slide sheets can also be used to help a client sit up in bed or roll them over onto their side. 

At Active Mobility Systems, we offer the WendyLett4Way Sliding Sheets, a sliding draw sheet that can be used in conjunction with the WendyLett base sheet. Shop the range online for fast and affordable shipping throughout Australia.

12 things to remember when using a slide sheet

There are certain techniques that must be used to make patient lifting and transfers using a slide sheet as safe as possible. Here are twelve elements you need to remember:

1. Always conduct a risk assessment prior to moving a patient
2. Most slide sheet transfers require two carers
3. The risk assessment should include skin integrity, pressure areas, wounds, attachments and sensitivities
4. Assess pain management
5. Encourage mobility where possible
6. When moving large patients, ensure there is a sufficient number of correctly sized slide sheets and enough staff for the transfer
7. Slide sheets should be accessible beside the bed of the patient for whom they are required – a suitable storage facility is needed, such as a hook, container or fabric holding bag
8. When a patient is discharged or moved to another location, or the sheets become soiled, the slide sheets should be sent for cleaning
9. Bed to bed transfers should always use both slide sheets and a transfer board
10. Most types of slide sheets are designed to be laundered
11. The usual slide sheet lifespan is around 80 washes, depending on the quality
12. Slide sheets must be inspected for tears and other damage before use.

Learn how to use a slide sheet with Active Mobility Systems

Interested in learning more about how to use a slide sheet? We host regular training sessions so you can get a feel for slide sheets and learn how to use them safely. We offer half and full-day seminars for therapists, nurses, aged care professionals and others working in the healthcare industry, so the right people have the right skills for patient transfers. 

Subscribe to our event list and keep an eye out for upcoming slide sheet training sessions. We host seminars in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong!

Alternatively, purchase fresh slide sheets online with Active Mobility Systems. Made from light and breathable materials, the range of WendyLett slide sheets are second to none. Shop online for fast and affordable shipping throughout Australia.