How should you protect a resident's skin during transfers to prevent shear?

• A. Move in small steps, avoid lifting, use friction-reducing devices, and keep skin supported.
• B. Ignore friction and lift the resident as a single movement.
• C. Drag the resident across the surface to finish quickly.
• D. Use only the resident's own strength to move.

Answer: (A)

Protecting skin during transfers means minimizing the sliding force between the resident’s skin and the surface. Move in small steps instead of one big lift, avoid lifting that yanks the skin, use friction-reducing aids like slide sheets or transfer boards, and keep the skin supported and in contact with the surface as you shift. These actions reduce both friction and shear, which helps prevent skin injury and ulcers.

Dragging or lifting in one motion increases shear and friction and can stretch or tear skin. Relying on the resident’s own strength is unsafe and can lead to falls or improper technique.