Views: 14 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-06-18 Origin: Site
A stretcher is an emergency medical device used to transport injured or sick patients, helping rescue personnel move them to a safe location or ambulance. It is commonly used in hospitals, outdoor settings, mountain areas, and marine rescue operations.
Although all stretchers serve the same purpose, different types have been developed based on varying rescue scenarios. Let's explore the different types of medical stretchers and their uses to help you choose the most suitable one.
Designed specifically for ambulances, this stretcher helps rescue personnel quickly load and transfer injured people.
Main features:
Made of multi-purpose aluminum alloy, it is sturdy, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant.
Equipped with wheels for easy transportation and transfer.
The stretcher has a foldable design with PVC fabric in the middle and aluminum alloy tubes on both sides, allowing for quick unfolding and transport of injured persons.
Main features:
Foldable design for easy storage and carrying.
Generally made of aluminum alloy and PVC fabric, lightweight, sturdy, and durable.
Suitable for narrow spaces or outdoor mountain rescue.
Specially designed to separate from the middle to both sides, it can be quickly inserted into the back of the injured person to secure and transfer them without moving them.
Main features:
Suitable for rescuing injured persons with spinal injuries.
Commonly used for rescue operations in mountainous areas or confined spaces.
Consists of two layers with air bags inside. Inflated to form an air cushion stretcher, helping rescue personnel transfer injured persons.
Main features:
Small volume after air is removed, easy to carry.
Adjustable shape, fits the injured person's body, providing good fixation and support.
Rescue personnel often carry out rescue missions in mountainous areas with difficult terrain. Basket stretchers can withstand severe wear and tear and perform their function in emergency situations.
Main features:
Made of aluminum alloy or plastic, featuring high strength, light weight, and corrosion resistance.
Provides adequate wrap protection, suitable for transporting critically injured patients.
The stretcher is equipped with handles or straps for easy multi-point transport.
Suitable for mountain, sea and air rescue operations.
Designed for rapid evacuation of disabled or injured persons via stairways.
Main features:
Simple structure, foldable, easy to carry, can be unfolded for use.
Commonly used in high-rise fires, earthquakes, and other urban stairway evacuation rescues.
The stretcher is made of soft plastic and can be rolled into a cylinder to reduce its size for easy carrying and storage.
Main features:
Can be rolled up for easy carrying and storage.
Can be quickly unfolded to wrap and secure the injured person for emergency rescue.
Mainly used for temporary wrapping and moving injured persons to the scene.
When selecting a stretcher, consider the following key factors to ensure that the stretcher you choose can effectively and safely complete rescue tasks:
Load-bearing capacity is the primary consideration when selecting a stretcher. Different materials have significantly different load-bearing capacities. Ensure the load-bearing capacity of the stretcher aligns with the patient's weight based on your operating environment to prevent structural damage or hazards caused by overloading during transport. This ensures patient safety.
The transport capacity of a stretcher determines rescue efficiency. Factors such as the number of users, applicable scenarios, and stretcher accessories all affect transport capacity. A suitable stretcher can assist rescue personnel in maneuvering through narrow or complex terrain, reducing the burden on rescuers and enhancing rescue efficiency.
Considerations:
Does it have wheels or rails for easy pushing or pulling?
Is it foldable or removable for easy storage and transportation?
Is the weight moderate for easy operation by rescue personnel?
The stretcher design must provide adequate support and stability in various environments and emergency situations. It must also be equipped with reliable safety devices, such as safety belts and straps, to ensure the safety of the injured person, prevent secondary injuries during transport, and facilitate rescue operations.
Considerations:
Are safety belts and safety devices present?
Is the stretcher structure sturdy and able to adapt to various terrains and operating conditions?
The materials used in the stretcher must be sturdy, wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and have sufficient load-bearing capacity to withstand outdoor rescue operations in harsh environments. They must maintain performance in various conditions (e.g., outdoor settings, adverse weather, muddy terrain, dusty conditions) to ensure the continuity and safety of rescue operations.
Considerations:
Are the materials sturdy (e.g., aluminum alloy, stainless steel, durable plastic, or composite materials)?
Are they easy to clean and disinfect?
Does it have corrosion resistant properties?
In various rescue scenarios, selecting the appropriate stretcher can significantly improve rescue efficiency and patient safety. The following are recommendations for several specific situations:
Stretchers designed for confined spaces primarily require compact size, portability, and rapid deployment to address rescue needs in confined spaces. In narrow corridors, stairwells, or enclosed environments, foldable stretchers, roll-up stretchers, or vacuum stretchers are recommended.
These stretchers are lightweight, easy to fold or roll up, and can be quickly deployed or operated after deployment, significantly improving rescue efficiency. Folding stretchers excel in storage and portability, making them suitable for spaces with limited room; roll-up stretchers are easy to roll up and carry, ideal for rapid transport; and vacuum stretchers can be adjusted to fit the patient's body shape, ensuring patient safety even in narrow environments.
In addition, evacuation stretchers are an ideal choice in stairwells or extremely narrow spaces where the injured person's condition is not severe. These stretchers have a simple, lightweight design, enabling rapid deployment and collaborative multi-person operation, allowing the rapid and safe transfer of injured individuals from hazardous areas to safe locations. Such stretchers typically lack complex safety mechanisms, prioritizing rapid transport and evacuation, making them particularly suitable for scenarios requiring efficient rescue operations in confined spaces.
For patients with spinal cord injuries, the safety of immobilization and support is of the utmost importance. Improper movement can lead to secondary injuries, so specialized stretchers must be used with caution. It is recommended to use a scoop stretcher, as its unique flat design allows for immobilization and transfer without moving the patient.
A scoop stretcher can be inserted directly under the patient's body, providing stable support and preventing further pressure or spinal injury during transport. This type of stretcher typically features multi-point fixation devices that securely secure the patient, ensuring that the head, neck, and trunk remain stable and do not shift or vibrate during movement, minimizing the risk of secondary injuries.
In harsh environments such as wilderness mountainous areas or at sea, durability and portability should be a priority when selecting a stretcher to meet a variety of complex rescue conditions. The basket stretcher is an ideal choice, as its sturdy structure and protective wrapping capabilities facilitate safe patient transport while enabling multi-point fixation.
In these environments, it is also essential to ensure that the stretcher has excellent corrosion resistance and weather resistance, enabling it to maintain structural stability and reliable performance in rainy, humid or high salt coastal environments. Stretchers made of wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant materials (such as high-quality stainless steel or specialty plastics) can be used for extended periods in harsh weather and natural conditions, reducing maintenance and replacement frequency.
