RE: weight restrictions

["Pufahl, Jo" <JPufahl@smdc.org>]

We have set a policy that limits/refusal to transport any patient over 350
pounds.  This would help to account for the "fudging" of weight that occurs,
helps to protect our stretchers, and like you - we fly a BK 117 - and size
of patient makes it extremely difficult to secure the stretcher into the
brackets without "crunching" the right side of the patient.  We've had a few
big patients, and we actually had to have them lie on their left side to
facilitate transport.  Thankfully, they weren't fresh traumas (needing the
spinal immobilization) and tolerated the different position.

Another option to consider that might limit stress on the stretcher is to
keep the legs collapsed during transport/moving the patient when outside the
helicopter.  This requires some imagination to be able to "push/pull" them
along at such a low position, and it requires a lot of extra helping hands
to lift into and out of the rotor wing.  It makes one slow down and consider
the stressors to equipment and people when attempting to transport such
heavy patients by rotor wing/fixed wing. 

Jo Pufahl, RN, SMDC LifeFlight, Duluth, MN

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Michel Hall Wofford [SMTP:michel@kc.rr.com]
> Sent:	Sunday, April 22, 2001 5:45 PM
> To:	flightmed@flightweb.com
> 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
> >