Re: weight restrictions

[Sara Kautz <skautz@yahoo.com>]

I have also found myself in a similar situation.  The
requesting facility stated the patient was
approximately 300# but when we arrived it was apparent
the patient was in excess of 500#.  The patient was
not only too heavy, but would not have fit through the
aircraft door.  We do have a weight policy, but that
doesn't protect us from the misinformation we receive.
 That is really the issue here...are we getting
accurate, truthful information? I don't know how to
solve that problem.  It is a very costly problem as
well.  As you can imagine, weight isn't the only
consideration, height and width also can be a factor
in some aircraft....a 300# 5'0" patient might not fit
and a 5'9", 300# might.  Our stretcher/loading system
actually has a 600# weight limit, but a patient of
that size would not fit through the door.  I can tell
you, it was a very uncomfortable to have to tell the
patient we could not transport her due to her size.

Sara Kautz RN BSN CEN
Chief Flight Nurse
Mountain Flight Service
Steamboat Springs, CO




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