Patient shifting aid and method of using same

Claim 1

A patient shifting aid comprising: a plastic slab having rounded corners forming a rectangular support surface upon which a patient is adapted to be placed and having sufficient thickness to support the weight of a patient placed thereon while enabling the obtaining of x-rays through the plastic slab to determine the extent of patient injury without the necessity of additional shifting of the patient; a plurality of openings in said slab and disposed adjacent the periphery of said support surface providing means for gripping the plastic slab to effect sliding movement of the plastic slab and the patient support thereon; said plurality of openings comprising generally rectangular openings having rounded corners and rounded openings for grasping the slab for moving a patient; said openings being disposed inwardly from the periphery of the slab a greater distance than the thickness of the slab; said slab having a sliding surface opposite said support surface which frictionally engages the support for the patient shifting and, said sliding surface and said support surface being formed smoothly to minimize frictional resistance to sliding movement; and said slab having sufficient flexibility to allow bending to provide clearance for the hands of a person effecting shifting of a patient.