When every second counts, the right medical stretcher can make a big difference. During an emergency every decision impacts the result. The right stretcher ensures that the patients receive quick medical care.
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But with so many types available in the market, how do you choose the right one?
Let's explore the various types and their uses to make the right decision.
Types of Medical Stretchers
1. Manual Stretchers - These are the normal type stretchers and are lightweight, easy to use. They are budget friendly too. But requires physical effort and is ideal for short distances and normal medical situations.
2. Electric Stretchers - They are much more advanced . They reduce the physical strain on medical personnel.You can adjust the height and angle by just pressing a button.They are used in emergency rooms, ICU’s where rapid actions need to be taken with utmost precision.
3. Bariatric Stretchers - These are designed for plus size patients. They provide a wider and strong platform to accommodate more weight. They have been designed with reinforced frames , large wheels to ensure stability as well as ease of movement. They are useful for patients having an obesity problem.
4. Scoop Stretchers - They are designed specifically for patients having spinal injuries.They can be divided into two halves , which are placed on either side of the patient and then joined together to lift the patient without doing a further damage.They are used mainly in trauma care where spinal precautions are important.
5. Ambulance Stretchers - They are used in ambulances and in emergencies.They can be loaded and unloaded quite easily and come with safety straps and side rails. They are vital for transporting patients from an accident scene and transfer to a nearest medical facility centre. Ensuring safety and patient comfort is among its functionality.
6. Portable Stretchers - They are also known as collapsible stretchers and can be folded. They are lightweight and are ideal for emergencies where rapid actions need to be taken.They are used for easy transportation.They can be used during disasters or natural calamities where accessibility is an issue.
Some Quick Tips For Safe Stretcher Use
Use patient restraints if available.
Respect weight limits for the stretcher type.
Ensure legs and brakes are properly engaged.
Move carefully over rough terrain.
Follow manufacturer guidelines.
Push feet-first, not head-first.
Uses of Medical Stretchers
Each stretcher has its own usability. So it might be difficult to choose the right one. Let’s explore how these stretchers are used in different cases.
Emergency Situations Emergencies are unforeseen situations where every minute counts.Electric stretchers allow several adjustments, thus saving time. Ambulance stretchers have easy loading and unloading features which helps in transporting patients from the accident spot to the ambulance and ultimately to the medical care.
Routine Patient Transfers For daily transfers within a hospital, manual stretchers are really useful. They are easy to move and do not require an external power source.To move inside medical wards and diagnostic rooms, manual stretchers provide a budget friendly and efficient solution.
Trauma and Spinal Injuries Traumatic incidents demand special attention to avoid any injuries or damage. Scoop Stretchers can be used in this situation. It is designed in such a manner that it minimizes mobility , reducing the risk of spinal injuries.. These stretchers are really useful in trauma centers.
Obese Patient Care Bariatric stretchers are important for patients suffering from obesity.These ensure that heavier patients are transported safely and comfortably. These stretchers must be available in clinics and hospitals to frequently handle obese patients. It provides a dignified way of safely transporting the obese patients too.
Remote and Field Operations Portability is fundamental in case of remote or field operations. Portable stretchers are needed in these scenarios. They are lightweight and have portable designs. It makes them easy to carry and position the patients correctly. First responders and military medical teams rely on these stretchers during disaster response and field rescues.
Intensive Care Electric stretchers are ideal for intensive care units, providing the precise adjustments and flexibility required for critical patient care. Their advanced features enable ultimate patient positioning and support, increasing both patient comfort and the ability to perform necessary medical procedures.
Do you want to invest in quality care ?
Find the Best Medical Stretchers …. Contact Mobi Medical Supply Today !!
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Check out the ones available with us..
MOBI Pro X-Frame EMS Stretcher - Versatile, adjustable EMS cot with contoured mattress, straps, 500 lb capacity, and 2-person operation.
First Call Removal Folding Stretcher (Model: MOBI-FRS350) - Durable aluminum alloy foldable cot with drop-down legs, compact storage, and 350 lb capacity.
Scoop Stretcher Pro - Lightweight, X-ray translucent stretcher with safety locks, adjustable head section, and four length options.
MOBI EZ Battery Powered Stair Chair - Strong 500 lb capacity stretcher for home or medical use, with warranty.
Call it a cot, stretcher, gurney (or even a pram) ... there’s no doubt that the battery-operated, power-lifting, color-friendly, and all-but 4-wheel drive capabilities of these staple items in our industry have gained some weight over the past decade. Despite our best efforts to make these pieces of equipment perform the same tasks as the prior silver frame relatives of their past, it’s time that we (as providers) adapt to keep the same premise in mind as their manufacturers do ... lifting safely.
The fact is, the vendors are right. EMS cots aren’t designed to be lifted or carried. They’re designed to securely transport a patient from point A to point B, with attendants guiding their movement – and not at a fully-extended loading height, either. In fact, even though many are battery-powered and auto-lifting, they’re still designed to have at least one provider at both the patient’s head and feet ends to help to guide the cot higher and/or lower (not just simply press a button and let the machine do the work).
So, if lifting and moving a patient out of their second story bedroom, basement den or even a four-step porch isn’t supposed to be done on a cot, then what other options do we have to accomplish this task safely?
The combination of brain and brawn is important here ... using direct (wo)manpower and critical thinking to safely, ergonomically, lift and carry patients is still a viable option.
While the fireman’s carry isn’t an ideal option, utilizing some sort of a commercial device with grab handles and clips certainly is (or even your KED board). Even when a commercial device isn’t available, performing a two-person carry by having one provider approaching from behind the patient to lift their torso, while the other is lifting the patient’s legs, still can be done in a fairly safe manner (provided we effectively communicate in the process, too).
Keeping your joints bent, body close and using straight and smooth motions (rather than twisting, jerking motions) can improve both your use of strength and ergonomic techniques. Focusing a bit on the use of brawn, a key component in this direction is also knowing your limitations ... as well as when it’s time to think of a plan B (switching to another device).
Disposable lifting sheets have entered the market within the past couple of decades and serve a greater purpose than solely aiding in the lifting/movement of obese patients – they can be used for any patient.
Imagine your crew having to carry a hypoglycemic patient to the outside of a single-story residence. You find the patient with snoring respirations and lying on their bed. You attempt treatment, but don’t get the results that you were anticipating, so you decide that it’s time to begin transporting. Your cot won’t fit into the front door – let alone down the hallway to the patient’s room – so you need to think of something else: a lifting sheet.
One advantage of lifting sheets over scoop stretchers is their flexibility. As long as the patient can tolerate it, they can be sandwiched a little bit in order to navigate through tight twists and turns within narrow hallways and around dressers, vanities and other household obstacles.
For situations where your patient might be a bit more fragile (e.g., your suspicion of a pelvic fracture or hip dislocation) the flexible lifting sheet may not provide the sense of stability that they’re looking for. In these situations, your scoop stretcher can be your best friend.
Scoop stretchers (preferred over longboards) allow you to scoop the patient off of the floor – without having to roll them – and carry them to wherever your cot may be located. Will a traditional longboard work? Yes, but it isn’t ideal, and in instances like this, it could actually do more harm than good. Because of this, it’s important to take a few seconds to plan the lifting and moving of your patient before you actually start the act. If that means that you need to go back to your ambulance to retrieve the most appropriate piece of equipment, then so be it. That is entirely acceptable (and it’s the right/best thing to do for your patient!).
In most other situations, I would bet that the device-of-choice that we should be utilizing is the almighty stair chair. Packed with wheels, tracks, extending handles and cup holders (on some deluxe models), this piece of equipment is one of the most underutilized items on our ambulance, especially if you interact with any patient in their home.
Once again, cots aren’t designed to be lifted (any more than two-three steps) into a patient’s home and not all patients may appreciate being sandwiched in a lifting sheet to be carried out of their residence. Because of this, the stair chair should be brought into the home much more than we often bring it.
Yes, they’re a little heavy when you have to carry them (from the ambulance to the residence), but they make a world of a difference when you need to maneuver your patient inside a cramped apartment, tight-spaced mobile home, or even down from the second story of nearly any colonial, cape cod or traditional two-story residence.
This device often should be our go-to patient movement piece of equipment. It allows us to wheel, glide and carry from multiple different directions and points – safely – and keeps our patients secured in the process.
As EMS providers, we’re good with thinking on our feet and adapting to nearly any situation that you put us into. Adding-in the element of safety, moreover, shouldn’t be a hindrance ... it should be the expectation. This concept (like it or not) shouldn’t go away when it comes to lifting and moving patients.