Which practice helps minimize skin shear during transfers?

• A. Move in small steps, keep skin supported, and use friction-reducing devices.
• B. Drag the resident with no devices.
• C. Lift with arms without any devices.
• D. Ignore skin protection and proceed.

Answer: (A)

Skin shear happens when the skin stays in place while the body moves, causing layers to rub against each other and the surface. During transfers, pulling or dragging a resident can create this harmful shear and injure delicate skin. The safest way to minimize it is to move in small steps, keep the resident’s skin well supported on the surface (so it isn’t sliding), and use friction-reducing devices such as slide sheets or transfer boards. These steps lower the force needed and reduce sliding between skin and the sheet. Good body mechanics—positioning yourself close, bending the knees, and lifting rather than pulling—also helps, but the essential idea is gradual movement with skin supported and reduced friction.