How to Assemble a Gait Belt on a Patient
- 1). Educate the patient on the purpose and use of the gait belt.
- 2). Place the gait belt around the patient's waist. Bring the buckle and the other end of the belt to the front of the patient's waist.
- 3). Thread the belt through the teeth of the metal buckle and then pull the belt through the other two openings to lock it. If the gait belt has a plastic buckle, adjust the fit of the belt to the patient's waist, then snap the two ends of the buckle together like a seatbelt.
- 4). Assess the tightness of the gait belt. The belt should feel snug, but you should be able to slip your fingers between the belt and the patient's waist.
