in a training environment in December 2003. , outside of
Fallujah,
Iraq in 2006 EMS stretchers used in
ambulances have wheels that makes transportation over pavement easier, and have a lock inside the ambulance and straps to secure the patient during transport. An integral lug on the stretcher locks into a sprung latch within the ambulance in order to prevent movement during transport. Modern stretchers may also have battery-powered hydraulics to raise and collapse the legs automatically. This eases the workload on EMS personnel, who are statistically at high risk of back injury from repetitive raising and lowering of patients. Specialized bariatric stretchers are also available, which feature a wider frame and higher weight capacity for heavier patients. Stretchers are usually covered with a disposable sheet or wrapping, and are cleaned after each use to prevent the spread of infection. Shelves, hooks and poles for medical equipment and intravenous medication are also frequently included. Standard stretchers have several adjustments. The bed can be raised or lowered to facilitate patient transfer. The head of the stretcher can be raised so that the patient is in a sitting position (especially important for those in respiratory distress) or lowered flat in order to perform
CPR, or for patients with suspected spinal injury who must be transported on a
spinal board. The feet can be raised to what is called the
Trendelenburg position, indicated for patients in
shock. Some manufacturers have begun to offer hybrid devices that combine the functionality of a stretcher, a recliner chair, and a treatment or procedural table into one device.
Basic stretchers • Simple stretchers are the most rudimentary type. They are lightweight and portable, made of canvas or other synthetic material suspended between two poles or tubular aluminum frame. Many are stored as disaster supplies and are often former military equipment. • The folding stretcher, also known as a
top deck or
collapsible stretcher, is similar in design to the simple stretcher, but features one or more hinged points of articulation to allow the stretcher to be collapsed into a more compact form for easier handling or storage. Some models may even allow the patient to sit upright in a
Fowler's or Semi-Fowler's position. • The Roberson orthopedic stretcher or
scoop stretcher is used for lifting patients, for instance from the ground onto an ambulance stretcher or onto a
spinal board. The two ends of the stretcher can be detached from each other, splitting the stretcher into two longitudinal halves. To load a patient, one or both ends of the stretcher are detached, the halves placed under the patient from either side and fastened back together. 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. • The
litter, also known as a basket stretcher or
Stokes litter, is designed to be used where there are obstacles to movement or other hazards: for example, in confined spaces, on slopes, in wooded terrain. • The
Neil Robertson stretcher is a stretcher designed for securely transporting injured individuals through narrow and confined spaces, such as steep ladders, small hatchways, and narrow passages. The Neil Robertson stretcher is widely used in maritime settings, particularly by naval forces and maritime rescue team.
Flexible stretchers A flexible stretcher, also known by the
brand names Reeves sleeve or SKED, is a stretcher that is often supported longitudinally by wooden or plastic planks. Essentially a
tarpaulin with handles, it is primarily used to
move a patient through confined spaces, e.g., a narrow
hallway, or to lift
obese patients.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lSqeHiQrCs4C&dq=reeves+stretcher+named+after&pg=PA697|page=697|title=Aehlert's EMT-basic Study Guide
Wheeled stretchers A collapsible wheeled stretcher, or gurney, is a type of stretcher on a variable-height wheeled frame. Normally, an integral
lug on the stretcher locks into a sprung
latch within the ambulance in order to prevent movement during transport, often referred to as antlers due to their shape. It is usually covered with a disposable sheet and cleaned after each patient in order to prevent the spread of infection. Its key value is to facilitate moving the patient and sheet onto a fixed bed or table on arrival at the
emergency department. Both types may have straps to secure the patient.
Types of stretchers Major stretcher manufacturing companies Other types of stretchers • The
Nimier stretcher (
brancard Nimier) was a type of stretcher used by the French army during
World War I. The patient was placed on their back, but in a "seated position", (that is, the thighs were perpendicular to the abdomen). Thus, the stretcher was shorter and could turn in the
trenches. This type of stretcher is rarely seen today. ==See also==