An EMT may injure his or her back, even if it is straight, if the:

• A. Force is exerted straight down the spine.
• B. Hands are held close to the legs.
• C. Shoulder is aligned over the pelvis.
• D. Back is bent forward at the hips.

Answer: (D)

Lifting safety hinges on keeping the spine in a neutral position and minimizing the lever arm between the load and the spine. When you bend forward at the hips while the back stays straight, the hips hinge and the upper body moves forward, creating a long lever with the weight far from the spine. This puts a large bending moment on the lumbar region, increasing the stress on muscles, ligaments, and intervertebral discs and raising the risk of injury even if the back itself isn’t rounded. The safer approach is to bend at the hips and knees together, keep the spine aligned, and keep the load close to the body so the legs do the lifting. That position—back bent forward at the hips—explains how back injuries can occur despite a straight back.