Views: 65 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2024-05-21 Origin: Site
Within EMS, every piece of equipment has very strict engineering to provide the most critical patient care and optimal operational performance. One of the most critical integral parts of any ambulance is the stretcher, also known as a gurney. This paper will describe stretcher widths, the importance, average size, and things to consider during design.
The width of a stretcher in EMS is a dimension upon which very critical aspects about the stretcher are based. These include:
Patient Comfort and Safety – The stretcher is to provide comfort for a range of body sizes as well as secure adjusting for patient transportation.
Maneuverability – A stretcher is to be maneuvered through limited spaces, like doorways and corridors, found both in buildings and within an ambulance.
Compatibility with Ambulance Interiors – The interior of an ambulance is designed with specifications to hold a stretcher in place without moving, allowing the effective utilization of the available space and ensuring safety during transportation.
Ambulance stretchers are meant to meet varying national and international standards. While there is some variability, certain dimensions have relative consistency across regions.
The dimensions of an ambulance stretcher usually fall within a range-specific to balance patient comfort and operational practicability:
Standard Width: The common size of an ambulance stretcher runs about 22 to 24 inches (56-61 cm). This measurement serves best in accommodating a large spectrum of patient body size while still being sufficiently narrow to allow for easy maneuvering in and out of most doorways and hallways.
Bariatric Stretchers: Bariatric stretchers with a baring design for transportation where larger patients have to be conveyed are common and are usually of width dimensions between 28 to 30 inches (71 to 76 cm). Bariatric stretchers are used to convey obese and other large patient populations for easy, safe, and comfortable transportation.
Though the width is important, some other dimensions should not be left out:
Length: The standard length of an ambulance stretcher is approximately 75 to 80 inches (190 to 203 cm). This, therefore, makes it possible to accommodate most adult patients with ease.
Height: The height is adjustable and usually ranges from 12 inches to about 30 cm) in the lowest position to about 36 inches to around 91 cm) in the highest position. This adjustability makes the job of transferring patients onto the stretcher easier and in positioning it within the ambulance.
The design of an ambulance stretcher is subjected to numerous micromanaging factors apart from the set standards. This is to ensure that the stretcher serves its purpose in any emergency that may mandate its application.
The demographic features of populations served by EMS affect stretcher design. An EMS region with larger-bodied patients may need a wider stretcher more often, so that the bariatric stretcher is added to the fleet.
Ambulances navigate through different surroundings or environments, such as narrow entrance doorways for homes, hospital corridors, and tight urban spaces. So, the width of a stretcher is a compromise between patient comfort and the needs of maneuverability.
Different countries and regions have given regulatory standards to define the dimensions and features of ambulance stretchers. These standards ensure that the stretchers are safe in offering help to patients in emergencies. For example, The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) are the standard setters for ambulance stretchers design and dimensions.
Technological advancement in materials and their handling has made it possible to manufacture stretchers that are both lightweight and strong. This has implied considerations of additional features, e.g., adjustable stretcher width, possible. New stretchers can expand or reduce in width to accommodate different width patients comfortable and well distributed.
The width of an ambulance stretcher is a crucial component of the stretcher's design and affects patient safety, comfort, and EMS operational efficiency. Standard stretchers measure between 22 to 24 inches in width. Bariatric stretchers extend the width to 28 or 30 inches to accommodate larger patients. These dimensions are chosen in such a manner that it assures the necessity of patient care without affecting the patient or the caregiver during various environments.
