I was doing CNA clinicals at a nursing home and I had to move a gentleman from his bed to his chair. Two of my CNA-in-training friends were in there just to assist and look busy. I had already operated the lift and I asked one of the girls if she would like to try working it. She had done it before, but decided to do it again anyway. We put the sling underneath him and hook up the hooks to the lift. We started lifting the man up, but put him back down to fix the sling. As the lift was going down, the girl operating it was looking the other way, talking, and thought that we would tell her to stop. Well, that kinda didn't happen. I was busy jabbering and happened to look at the arm of the lift. Before I could holler, it started going against his groin and he yelled "Whoa Whoa WHOA!!!" I hollered about a second after him and she stopped. She stopped it, got upset and freaked out, causing her to press the same button again instead of the UP button! I hollered "Wrong button!!" and she pressed the right button after that. Needless to say, the gentleman was quite ready for us to leave. So the next time you are operating the lift, ask yourself "How many CNAs does it take to use a lift?"

I agree w/ Angie...it's totally unprofessional to think it's funny, BUT IT IS! You know healthcare professionals have to have a sick sense of humor to survive!

That's happened to me too, those slings are horrible for male patients!   I "crushed a manhood" too when those new things came out.  I'll never forget the look on his face, his eyes kind of bugged out of his head.  I wish they could figure out something better.

If you take one lesson away from this, I hope it's to never, ever take your eyes off a patient on a lift, and always use at least two people.  (and giggle away from the patient)