Choosing a Patient Sling

Choosing a Patient Sling: What You Need to Know

While the style and mechanics of the patient lift itself are certainly important, the consideration of what type of sling to buy is equally as crucial.  The sling is the component of the lift that actually holds the patient. Attaching to a cradle, available slings come in a variety of sizes, styles and materials. When shopping for a sling, you want to keep in mind a number of factors, including: patient weight, overall ability, and general lift function.

Here is an overview of not only what you need to be looking for as far as a patient lift sling is concerned, but also a short breakdown of the various styles available for at-home use. Taking your time, doing the necessary research and asking the right questions will help ensure that your sling purchase is the optimal one given your needs and those of the person for whom you are caring.

The Mechanics of the Sling

Primarily, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the components of a patient lift sling. Not all slings are created equal, and not all slings perform in the same way. Slings are manufactured from a number of materials. The primary materials utilized to construct the slings are:

• Mesh: Durable and breathable, mesh is great especially if the sling is intended for use in wet environments. For instance, if the patient is being transferred into a shower or tub, then most likely you are going to want to ensure that the sling material is a mesh-based one.
• Padded: While not necessarily designed for wetter circumstances, the padded slings do offer extra comfort and support. Depending on the patient’s needs and condition, this could be a necessary option.
• Standard: If the person for whom you are caring does not require a sling that will be used in conjunction with water or doesn’t need extra padding, then a standard sling is generally what will be required. With all of the slings, you want a good quality material that is rated for the proper weight and that will hold up to the task.
• Disposable: There are slings that can be used and then thrown away. With the disposable variety, you have the ability to utilize the sling a number of times before replacing it. The more standard types on the other hand are meant to be washed and reused. After laundering, a good quality sling should not show signs of fraying and the stitches should remain firmly intact.

Other sling components include: the straps (some may feature chains instead of straps depending on the design and style), S hooks which attach the sling to the cradle, as well as padding for extra support. Additionally, some brands of slings will also offer anti-bacterial and/or anti-microbial inserts and accessories.

The Various Types of Slings Available

When searching for the right sling to use with your lift, again you want to keep in mind the primary function of that lift. While certainly many slings are versatile, there are those geared more for toilet transport, some are designed for bed to chair transfers, and others are utilized mainly for sit-to-stand purposes.  You can also get most sling varieties with added head support. If for instance, the patient has difficulty as far as neck control or has some other form of impairment and/or disability which makes it necessary for there to be added support behind the head and neck area, then you definitely want to consider purchasing a model which includes this particular feature.

Within these categories there are different types of patient slings you can purchase. Keep in mind your own ability as far as bearing weight and assisting the patient when choosing which product works best for your individual home care situation.

• U-Slings: U-Slings tend to be the most popular and the easiest to use. The design is such that the patient doesn’t actually sit on any part of the sling itself. This in turn makes transferring to a chair for instance much simpler than if the patient were fully immersed in the sling. With the U-Sling design, the bulk of the sling goes behind the patient’s back; there are then straps which wrap around the person’s legs. You can purchase this particular style sling with additional head support.

 As far as the cradles to which this type of sling attaches, the universality of the U-Sling enables it to attach to just about any 2, 4, or 6 point cradle. Always, however, discuss it with a knowledgeable sales representative before buying.

• Full Body Slings: As the name suggests, these types of slings encompass the patient’s entire body. This design is also sometimes referred to as a Hammock Sling given the way in which it cradles the patient. This style may be more appropriate with a senior patient who does not have the capacity to bear any weight and thus needs a more comprehensive mode of transfer.

Full body style slings can be purchased with a commode opening. Thus, if you do foresee the need for your patient to be transported to the toilet, this sling is an affordable and interchangeable option for you.

• Toileting Slings: Specifically for use with commode transfers, the toileting sling is shaped very much like the U-Sling. With support around the mid back area and then padded straps around the legs, the convenience of this particular style allows for a caregiver to undress the patient more easily than if they were otherwise being held by a hammock sling.

With most toileting slings, given the design, the patient should be able to support their upper body on their own. If, for some reason, this is not the case, then your better choice might be to purchase a full body or hammock sling with a commode opening option.

• Sit-to-Stand Slings: These are designed for use with a sit-to-stand lift. In this circumstance the patient is able to bear their own weight for the most part. This product is generally composed of a fairly wide padded back strap that then attaches to the cradle. From there, the patient, with the assistance of the lift, can ease him/herself up out of a seated position. Not to be used with a regular lift, the sit-to-stand sling really is intended as an aid for standing as the patient will have to exert effort on their part; with the use of this lift/sling that effort is facilitated. The patient does need to have control of their head and neck as well as be able to bend their knees.
• Walking Sling: The walking sling, as its name suggests, is meant to help the patient as they try and walk. Used primarily with a ceiling lift system, the walking sling is comprised of a leg harness that adds upper body support and is usually fitted over/around the groin area. With this sling, the patient must be able to support a good portion of their weight. The sling, often used for rehabilitation purposes, provides additional help as the patient works on their gait.
• Amputee Sling: Because of the way in which this particular sling is designed, it works especially well for transporting those with either a single leg amputation or a double leg. The sling itself distributes weight more evenly thus giving the patient a greater sense of security and comfort when moving from the bed to the toilet or from a wheelchair back to the bed for example. The sections directly beneath the leg area are reinforced and padded to provide maximum support.

When Purchasing a Patient Lift Sling

Beyond of course the function required of your lift/sling, you again want to ensure that whichever sling you buy has the capacity to handle the weight and capability level of the patient. If for example, the person is unable to support him/herself at all, then odds are you are going to want to look into the full body design. However, if the patient is comfortable with moderate movement and can bear some weight, then the easier to use U-Sling may be the better selection.

With any sling that you purchase, keep in mind that there are accessories and add-ons available to help facilitate patient transfers to an even greater degree. From, as previously mentioned, anti-bacterial inserts, to additional chains and straps, to extra padding, such accessories allow you to customize your sling and make the transporting experience as smooth and seamless as you possibly can.