Transportation on a stretcher

Transportation on a stretcher is the least traumatic. Standard ambulance stretcher consists of 2 bars, 2 steel stretches with spring locks and legs, removable tarpaulins and belts. The length of the stretcher 2.1 to 2.2 m, width 55-60 cm, weight 9,5-10 kg. Nowadays there are lightweight stretchers weighing 7.5 kg. Stretcher are deployed by following way: both porters stretch belts, and then pulling the handle, open the stretcher and, resting the knee in stretches until it clicks, straighten them out. Each porter checks whether the locks are well-closed: the porters simultaneously open the locks and latches, tightening thrusts on themselves, put the stretcher, turning their feet up. When the cloth sags in the direction opposite the legs, they move the bars, put the stretchers to the legs.

If possible, you should lay a blanket or a durable blanket on a stretcher so that one half (lengthwise) covers the stretcher and the other lay nearby. After laying on the stretcher patient is covered by this half. In the future, it is more comfortable to remove the patient from the stretcher, holding on to the edge of the veil. In the cold season you should wear a headdress on your patient, and to wrap his feet. We should not forget about the necessity of additional warming of patients in condition of shock.

On a stretcher we transport the unconscious patients, patients in condition of in shock, severe patients with ischemic stroke, with acute myocardial infarction, pregnant women with complications of pregnancy (eclampsia, the threat of termination and other), with trauma of hip (fracture, extensive wounds), with surgical or gynecological diseases of organs of abdominal cavity, with traumatic brain injuries, with combined lesions with spinal cord injuries.

The transport process must be done very carefully, without jerks. You should transport the patient not moving up in small steps, but slightly bending your knees and holding the stretcher on the same horizontal level (Fig. 12).

Figure 12.

Transporting a patient on a stretcher:

а - downstairs; b- upstairs

If during transportation anybody feels tired, then he/she should inform about it, as tired fingers can consciously relax. During transportation going behind worker should monitor the status of patient and from time to time ask the patient about his condition. To lay the victim on a stretcher, two porters bring under him hands: one brings under the head and back, the other brings under the pelvis and legs, simultaneously raise and stack on a stretcher. At ascending and descending the stairs you should try to hold stretcher in horizontal position with the help of simultaneous lowering and lift of the foot and head end of the stretcher or Vice versa. At that the arms of the patient are stretched along the body. Down the stairs the patient should be transported the legs forward. At that going behind worker keeps the handles of stretcher onto the straightened at elbow arms and going ahead keeps it on shoulders.

Up the stairs the patient should be transported the head forward in a horizontal position. At that going ahead worker keeps the handles of stretcher on the straightened at elbow arms and going behind keeps it on shoulders. The exception are acute blood loss, very low blood pressure - in this case, do the opposite.

Different injuries require the relevant position of patient on the stretcher with the aim of minimizing of harmful actions during transport (table. 5).

Table 4.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-29