RE: weight restrictions

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

It depends on the crew person.  We do not put out wheeled stretcher into the
back of the ambulance and try to use their locking mechanisms.  It just
doesn't work well and the liability is too great.  In winter we take our
mattress/linens which are wrapped with a big, warm sleeping-bag like outer
wrap.  We place this on the ambulance cot and transport the patient to the
LZ/airport.  The only problem I have encountered with this method is that if
the patient and our mattress are placed on top of their mattress too,
sometimes it is difficult to get the ambulance stretcher straps to wrap
around both mattresses, patient (especially if they are large) and all the
linens.  It can make the stretcher a little tippy too.  In warmer weather,
we just use the ambulance stretcher and transfer the patient when we arrive
at the LZ/airport.  I see it as the same as if we were doing an intercept on
the road with two ambulances.  Just keep the patient warm!  We do have an
wheeled isolette stretcher that we use for neonate transports.  We have a
second stretcher without wheels with a second isolette permanently affixed
that we strap on top of the regular adult stretcher when doing remote
neonate transfers.  This second system would strap onto the ambulance cot
for transport between sites.  Jo Pufahl, RN, SMDC LifeFlight, Duluth, MN

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Rob Atwater [SMTP:Flight163@toast.net]
> Sent:	Monday, April 23, 2001 11:28 AM
> To:	flightmed@flightweb.com
> Subject:	Re: weight restrictions
> 
> A question for those of you flying BK's and using the wheeled Ferno
> stretcher...
> 
> We fly to many hospitals that don't have helipads, and are forced to take
> an
> ambulance ride.  What do you do with your stretcher?  Place it on top of
> the
> ambulance stretcher?  Not take it into the hospital at all, and  just
> transfer the patient over once you get back to the helicopter?  We have
> elected to keep the flat stretcher that goes on the floor of the BK,
> mainly
> because of this issue.  Personally, I like the idea of the wheeled
> stretcher, but it just doesn't seem to be feasable here.  Maybe someone
> has
> a better way...
> 
> Rob Atwater
> STAT Flight