Stretcher: Encyclopedia II - Stretcher - Lifting and carrying devices

Stretcher - Lifting and carrying devices

The casualty must be lifted (scoop) to be put on the stretcher. This lifting can be made manually, but it is also possible to use specific devices. These devices can be also used as stretchers, but only for short distances.

A long spine board can be used to scoop and carry the victim to the stretcher; in case a spine trauma is suspected, the victim is left on the board and tied to it and the board is simply put on the stretcher. The spine and the overall immobilisation can also be performed by a vacuum mattress put on the stretcher.

When there is no suspicion of spine trauma, the vacuum mattress can be used as a stretcher (it has handles), which is best in narrow places when the stretcher cannot be kept horizontal. It is more secure and comfortable than strapping the casualty to the stretcher.

The scoop stretcher is a device used specifically for the lifting of patients with fractured/injured pelvises, and cannot be used when spinal trauma is suspected. The two ends of the stretcher can be detached from each other, splitting the stretcher into two longitudinal halves. To load a patient, one end of the stretcher is detached, making hinged V which can be used to 'scoop' up the patient. With obese patients, the possibility exists of accidentally pinching the patient's back when closing the stretcher, so care must be made not to injure them when carrying out this procedure.

A reeves stretcher, or 'flexible stretcher', is a flexible stretcher that is supported longitudinally by wooden or plastic planks. It is a kind of tarpaulin with handles. It is primarily used to move a patient through confined spaces (e.g. a narrow hallway), or to lift obese patients (reeves stretchers have 6 handholds, allowing multiple rescuers to assist extrication). Law enforcement officers sometimes use the Reeves stretcher as a humane method of restraint.

To load the patient, the stretcher is folded, and the patient is rolled aside so the stretcher can be slid under him/her. The stretcher is then unfolded. For the patient's comfort, a dry sheet is often folded into the stretcher.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Lifting and carrying devices", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki