A Hoyer Lift is a lifting device or that is commonly used in nursing homes and other medical facilities to help transfer patients from beds, wheelchairs or vice versa. . Hoyer lifts help eliminate injuries to the patient and the caregiver. Special care and attention needs to be used when transferring any patient using a Hoyer Lift, as injuries and even death may result from improper techniques or use of the lift. First you position the sling beneath the patient to be transferred. To do this, caregivers will be required to carefully roll the patient from side to side in order to position the sling properly. Make sure that the sling is evenly distributed and is correctly positioned, the seam side of the sling away from the skin of the patient. Second expand the legs to stabilize the weight of patient move the Hoyer Lift so that the extended legs slide under the bed or chair you are transferring from. Slide the Hoyer lift under the patient until the swivel bar hook of the lift is directly over the patient's abdomen. Then you attach the sling straps or chains (different lifts can have different types of slings) to the cradle of the Hoyer lift. Third you pump the handle which raises the patient, raise them just high enough that you can check the sling and make sure patient is in it properly. Now you are ready to transfer the patient, once patient is over the chair, bed or where you transferring them to, lastly, slowly release the control valve and lower the patient. Picture taken from http/www.hoyerlift.com