Know Your Stretcher
This patient-carrying device is standard equipment in ambulances and may also be called a cot or litter.
What is a wheeled stretcher?
This device allows a patient to remain sitting while being moved on stairs.
What is a stair chair?
A patient with severe respiratory distress in an upstairs bedroom may be moved with this device.
What is a stair chair?
This two-EMT technique may involve grasping the patient under the armpits and at the knees or wrists.
What is the extremity carry?
An unresponsive patient without a suspected spinal injury should generally be placed in this position.
What is the recovery position?
This is the safest height for moving a wheeled stretcher.
What is its lowest level?
This stretcher splits vertically so EMTs can place it around a patient without excessive rolling or lifting.
What is a scoop stretcher?
A patient thrown from an ATV several hundred yards into the woods may be moved with one of these devices.
What is a portable or scoop stretcher?
This technique is used to move a patient from the ground to a stretcher when no spinal injury is suspected.
What is the direct ground lift?
A patient with chest pain or difficulty breathing may be transported in this general type of position.
What is a position of comfort?
A stretcher should always be secured here during patient transport.
What is inside the ambulance?
This stretcher is designed for rough terrain or moving patients between levels.
What is a basket/Stokes stretcher?
A patient with neck and back pain after falling down stairs may require this device
What is a long backboard?
This method is commonly used to transfer a patient between a bed and stretcher.
What is the draw-sheet method?
Fowler or semi-Fowler position describes a patient who is generally positioned this way.
What is semi-sitting/upright?
This type of stretcher uses a battery-powered hydraulic system to raise and lower patients.
What is a power stretcher?
This flexible canvas or rubberized device works well in confined spaces and narrow hallways.
What is a flexible/Reeves stretcher?
An unresponsive patient in a narrow hallway may be moved using one of these two devices.
What is a flexible or scoop stretcher?
During a bed-to-stretcher transfer using the draw-sheet method, the stretcher should be positioned at this angle to the bed.
What is 90 degrees?
A patient in shock should generally be placed in this position.
What is supine?
This specialized stretcher is commonly rated for 800 pounds or more.
What is a bariatric stretcher?
Air is removed from this device so it conforms to the patient's body and becomes rigid.
What is a vacuum mattress?
Before moving a patient with suspected spinal injury, EMTs begin by performing this action.
What is manual stabilization?
Extremity carry, direct ground lift, draw-sheet method, and direct carry are appropriate when this injury is not suspected.
What is a spinal injury?
Research cited in the chapter indicates that EMTs should not routinely do this to the legs of a patient in shock.
What is elevate the legs?