Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
General product information only, not medical advice. Follow the instructions for use or label supplied with the specific sling and the advice of the treating clinician.
Overview
In a medical setting, “sling” means one of two different devices: an arm sling, which supports an injured arm, and a patient-lift sling, the fabric seat or harness used with a patient lift. This page covers both. Rigging and lifting slings used in construction, and firearm slings, are different products and are not covered here.
In the United States both are Class I devices. The FDA defines an arm sling as “a device intended for medical purposes to immobilize the arm, by means of a fabric band suspended from around the neck” (21 CFR 890.3640, checked 2026-10-30). It is exempt from premarket notification, subject to the limitations in 21 CFR 890.9. A patient-lift sling is not classified on its own: 21 CFR 880.5510 describes the non-AC-powered patient lift as a device that lifts and transports a patient “from one place to another, as from a bed to a bath” and states that it “includes straps and a sling to support the patient.” The lift is also Class I and 510(k)-exempt, subject to 21 CFR 880.9.
Two similarly named devices are different again: the surgical mini-sling mesh implant (a Class II device under 21 CFR 878.3300 in the openFDA classification database) and the wheelchair overhead suspension sling (product code INE, 21 CFR 890.3910). Neither is a sling in the sense used below.
Types table
Arm slings
The arm-sling types below are those described in a National Health Service hospital patient leaflet, “Using a sling” (Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, checked 2026-10-30).
| Name | What it is | Intended use (as stated) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broad arm sling | Triangular fabric sling tied behind the neck | Arm injuries and sometimes chest injuries | Transfers arm weight to the upper back and neck |
| High arm sling | Sling that holds the hand and forearm raised | Supporting the hand and forearm | Same neck and upper-back loading |
| Collar and cuff | Strip of foam material used to form a sling | Extra stability of the arm | Foam construction |
| Poly sling | Non-stretch material with padded lining and touch-and-close fasteners | Support and flexibility of use | Occasionally supplied, according to the leaflet |
The leaflet notes that a sling moves the weight of the arm onto the upper back and neck.
Patient-lift slings
The rows below come from one manufacturer’s catalogue, “Slings for patient lifts 2023/2024” (Meden-Inmed, checked 2026-10-30), and describe that company’s range only. Other makers’ names, capacities and fittings differ. SWL means safe working load.
| Sling | What it is | Intended use (as stated) | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Body Sling | High back, divided leg parts, extra head support; loops or clips; reclined sitting position | Transfers to and from bed, chair and floor | Loop versions to 300 kg SWL; showering only in polyester net |
| Basic Sling | Shoulder-high, divided leg parts, no reinforcement, handles or padding; loops; upright sitting | Transfers to and from bed and chair | 300 kg SWL; no head support |
| Toileting Sling | Low or high back, divided leg parts, reinforced back | Toileting and bathing; low-back and high-back models | Polyester net only for showering and toileting; 300 kg loops, 250 kg clips |
| Back Belt | Clip sling for a sit-to-stand lift | Sit-to-stand lifting from bed, chair and toilet; standing exercises | Clip fitting only; polyester; 250 kg SWL |
| Universal Basic and Universal Basic Mesh | Loop slings with or without head support; mesh version for bathing | General transfers; the mesh version is for bathing | 275 kg SWL |
| Rigid Stand Aid Sling | Semi-rigid corset-style stand aid; clips | Standing transfers | 220 kg SWL; sizes M, L, XL |
How to choose by setting
Patient-lift slings are chosen by lift, fixing, fabric and rated load, and the choice is made by the trained staff or supplier using the product instructions, not from a general guide. The manufacturer catalogue organises its range by the lift it is used with, the fixing (loop or clip) and the fabric, and notes that slings come in different maximum load capacities.
The same catalogue lists which lifts take which fitting. Examples from its range: the PatiHoist takes loop slings only; the Verteo sit-to-stand lift takes clip slings only (Back Belt); the Levitop Comfort and VertiUp take clip slings only; the Levitop Standard and Lifteo lifts take loop or clip depending on the hanger bar. The practical rule is that a sling must match both the lift and its hanger bar. For background on the lifts themselves see what a patient lift is and the parts of a Hoyer lift. Clinics that stock slings among other supplies may also find the sports medicine clinic supply checklist useful.
What to check on the label
- Use statement. The catalogue opens: “These are medical devices. Use them according to the user manual or label.”
- Maximum load (SWL). Each model carries its own figure, from 220 kg to 300 kg in the table above.
- Fixing type. Loops or clips. Clip slings attach to pin fasteners on the hanger bar; loop slings may have colour-coded straps (blue, green, yellow, red).
- Fabric. Polyester is durable, low-friction and easy to clean; polyester net is soft, thin and quick-drying and is the only fabric the catalogue approves for showering and toileting; ventilated polyester appears only in positioning and bariatric slings; soft air mesh is lightweight and breathable.
- Size. Sizes are given per model as body measurements; the High Easy sling, for example, is sold in M, L and XL.
Care and replacement
Care instructions are model-specific. For the manufacturer’s High Easy and Rigid Stand Aid slings the catalogue gives a wash temperature of 85 °C and tumble drying on low heat (maximum 50 °C). Those figures apply only to those models; the care label and instructions for use on each sling govern.
FAQ
What are the main types of medical slings?
Arm slings (broad arm, high arm, collar and cuff, poly sling) and patient-lift slings (full body, basic, toileting, sit-to-stand and others, fitted with loops or clips).
Are slings regulated as medical devices?
Yes. In the United States an arm sling is a Class I device under 21 CFR 890.3640, and the sling is part of the Class I patient lift defined in 21 CFR 880.5510.
Can any sling be used with any patient lift?
No. The manufacturer’s catalogue pairs each lift with loop-only, clip-only or either type depending on the hanger bar. Check the lift and sling instructions together.
Where does a splint or bandage fit?
They are separate devices; see what a splint is and what a bandage is. For a different kind of transfer aid see what a gait belt is.
Sources
- 21 CFR 890.3640 Arm sling, https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/890.3640 (checked 2026-10-30)
- 21 CFR 880.5510 Non-AC-powered patient lift, https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/880.5510 (checked 2026-10-30)
- openFDA device classification database, https://api.fda.gov/device/classification.json (queried 2026-10-30)
- Meden-Inmed, “Slings for patient lifts 2023/2024”, https://en.meden.com.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Slings_for_patient_lifts.pdf (checked 2026-10-30)
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, “Using a sling”, https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/your-visit/patient-information-leaflets/using-sling/ (checked 2026-10-30)
