Modern ambulance stretchers are built to carry heavier loads and last longer than their old counterparts, but we also need to know how to use them properly so that the patient does not suffer. Here are a few tips to follow when using stretchers and cots:

Buy the right product:

Begin by researching for the best product. Stretchers are the most commonly used emergency medical equipment by EMS movers. Some of the annual EMS conferences held every year in the US display the latest models of stretchers. The right type of stretcher also depends on factors like call volume, the place where you’d be running the EMS (rural, urban, etc.), the terrain on which these stretchers are likely to be used, etc. Maintenance and service programs offered by the manufacturer also help while choosing- does the manufacturer offer spare cots and stretchers when yours needs servicing, how soon they can get repairs fixed, etc.

Use the right equipment:

A power cot should be used with two responders at the ends and should never be carried on the stairs. But if there should arise a situation where you have to use power cots, use it along with a tracked stair chair. When transferring patients through a flexible stretcher, use vinyl tarps- they help to reduce the spinal load and are easy to clean as well. How do you transfer patients from bed to bed? If you are using a bed sheet, it certainly isn’t a good idea. They put pressure on your spine and do not have handles to allow easy transfer.

As earlier said, today’s stretchers and cots are designed to last for many years, but using it the right way helps to reduce injury and increases shelf life.

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