A gait belt is a device used by a caregiver to decrease the incidence of caregiver back injuries and to provide assistance and stability during walking and transferring a patient. The belt is a band of material approximately 1.5 to 4 inches wide and 54 to 60 inches long. Gait belts close with either a metal or plastic buckle. Gait belts are indicated for cooperative people that are able to bear some weight while walking or transferring. Knowing properly assemble a gait belt on a patient can improve the safety of the patient and the caregiver.
Instructions
1. Educate the patient on the purpose and use of the gait belt.
2. Place the gait belt around the patient's waist. Bring the buckle and the other end of the belt to the front of the patient's waist.
3. Thread the belt through the teeth of the metal buckle and then pull the belt through the other two openings to lock it. If the gait belt has a plastic buckle, adjust the fit of the belt to the patient's waist, then snap the two ends of the buckle together like a seatbelt.
4. Assess the tightness of the gait belt. The belt should feel snug, but you should be able to slip your fingers between the belt and the patient's waist.
