Find out how to raise and lower the boom.
Synthetic lifting slings and straps like all industrial lifting slings have limitations. It is important for responsible sling users to realize that chain slings, wire rope slings and wire mesh slings all have their place for proper use and application. Polyester and heavy duty nylon lifting slings have two primary limitations: they are easily. Weigh or estimate the load weight of the object to be moved. Obtain lifting straps rated for more than twice the load weight as a safety factor. Slings may be chains, wire rope or synthetic rope or slings, depending on the materials to be lifted. Rig the load with the lifting straps to provide a balanced lift.
There are 2 types of Hoyer lifts: manual (or hydraulic)
and powered (or electric). The only difference between these types of lift is the method used to raise or lower the boom. Manual lifts have a pump handle which must be moved up and down repeatedly to raise the boom, whereas battery powered lifts have simple 'Up' and 'Down' arrows to control the boom.[1]
- Find the small control valve at the base of a manual lift's pump handle. When the control valve is positioned toward the pump handle, the valve is closed. The valve must be in this position in order for the pump to work when elevating the boom. Keep pumping until the boom locks into place.[2]
- When the control valve is positioned away from the pump handle, the valve is open. Gently move the control valve from the closed to the open position to control the rate at which the boom lowers.
- Experiment with raising and lowering the boom before you put the patient in the lift. It’s important to thoroughly familiarize yourself with how the lift works before using it to move a patient.