Re: weight restrictions

["Bruce Bowling" <caduceus@mis.net>]

While the weight factor is important, there are other issues.

How does the patient fit on your stretcher?  If their girth is so large that
they "ooze" over the sides of your stretcher, and precludes raising the side
rail, then you should not place them on this stretcher.  Same issue with
your restraint straps on the stretcher.

One thing you should be aware of.  The 400 pound rating on the stretcher is
in the raised position.  If you never raise the stretcher (extend the
wheels), you will not have problems with stretcher breakage. This can be
accomplished by placing your stretcher on an ER stretcher in the retracted
position. I transported the same 600 + lb. patient twice by using this
method. And yes, the referring facility swore that the patient was 375 both
times.

Bruce
CareFlight
Lexington, KY
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michel Hall Wofford" <michel@kc.rr.com>
To: <flightmed@flightweb.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2001 6:45 PM
Subject: weight restrictions


>
>
> > The safety committee for our program is looking at an issue that we
would
> > like some input about from the list members:
> > 1.  We fly a BK117 and our stretcher has a 400# weight limit.
> > 2.  We have been faced with heavy patients lately who deny weighing more
> > than 400#, who clearly look like they weigh more than that, and no way
to
> > weigh them as well as requesting agencies who know our stretcher limits
> and
> > tend to "fudge" a little on patient weights.
> > 3.  Several stretchers have been found broken (stress fractures, etc.)
> after
> > these flights.
> > 4.  Not only is there a weight (safety) issue to consider here but also
a
> > patient care issue (space, pt. access, how to turn down a flight after
> > arrival at the requesting agency when the patient is clearly more than
> 400#
> > and insisting he/she is not, etc.)--how do other programs out there
handle
> > similar situations?
> > Thanks!
> > Michel Hall Wofford, RN
> > LifeFlight Eagle, KCMO
> >