Gait belt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A gait belt or transfer belt is a device put on a patient who has mobility issues, by a caregiver prior to that caregiver moving the patient. Patients may have problems with balance and a gait belt may be used to aid in the safe movement of a patient, from a standing position to a wheelchair, for example. The gait belt has been customarily made out of cotton webbing, with a durable metal buckle on one end. Cleanable vinyl gait belts were introduced due to the tendency of webbing to harbor supergerms.
Gait belts are worn around a patient's waist.[1] Their purpose is to put less strain on the lumbar spine of the patient as the caregiver(s) are transporting the patient. Gait belts are used in nursing homes, hospitals, or other similar facilities. It is a 2-inch-wide (5 cm) belt, with or without handles. The gait belt must always be applied on top of clothing or gown to protect the patient's skin. A gait belt can be used with patients in both one-person or two-person pivot transfer, or in transfer with a slider board.[2]
Problems
With the advent of supergerms, such as MRSA[3] and VRE,[4] trying to limit the ways germs are transmitted is a major concern for the healthcare industry. Identifying proper methods for cleaning webbed belts is an issue that most healthcare facilities are struggling with. Organizations like the Joint Commission,[5] OSHA and the CDC[6] are constantly updating their recommendations for cleaning inanimate objects like the gait belt. An antimicrobial vinyl gait belt was patented by Barry Chapman in 2013.[7]