Stretcher

A stretcher helps move sick people.

Some are simple. Two people carry them. They use poles and cloth.

Other stretchers have wheels. These are called gurneys. They help move people in an ambulance.

Some stretchers can change shape. They can go flat. They can also sit up like a chair. This helps people breathe better.

Special stretchers are for hard places. Some look like baskets. They help in the woods or on mountains.

Workers clean them after every use. This keeps germs from spreading. It keeps everyone safe.

A stretcher helps move people who need medical care.

Some are simple tools. They use poles and cloth. Two or more people must carry them.

Some stretchers can fold. This makes them easy to store.

Other stretchers have wheels. People call these gurneys. They help move patients in an ambulance.

These gurneys have many parts. They can move up and down. This helps workers move patients easily. Some use battery power to lift the legs. This helps stop back injuries for workers.

Special stretchers work in hard places. A basket stretcher is used in woods or mountains. It has high sides to keep a person safe. A person can be strapped inside. This litter can be carried by hand. It can also be moved by a helicopter.

Workers clean every stretcher after use. This stops the spread of infection. Some stretchers even have hooks. These hold tools or medicine. This helps doctors work while they move.

A stretcher is a special tool used to move people who need medical care.

These devices help doctors and rescuers move patients safely from one place to another. Some people call them litters, gurneys, or cots. They are used by emergency medical services, the military, and search and rescue teams. Using a stretcher is very important for people who cannot walk on their own. It helps keep them steady while they are being moved to a hospital.

There are many different ways these tools work.

A basic stretcher is often just cloth or canvas held up by two poles. A wheeled stretcher, or gurney, uses a frame with wheels to roll over pavement. These gurneys often have a special lug that locks into an ambulance. This keeps the bed from moving while the vehicle is driving. Some modern versions even use battery-powered hydraulics to raise or lower the legs. This helps workers avoid back injuries from lifting heavy weight.

People have used stretchers for a very long time. Old drawings show a wounded knight being carried on a stretcher in the middle ages. In the year 1868, drawings showed a chair-style stretcher used for troops. Simple stretchers were used by militaries all the way through the middle of the 20th century. The word "gurney" for a wheeled stretcher likely came from slang used on the Pacific Coast. By the 1930s, people were using that name in hospitals.

Different jobs require different kinds of stretchers.

A basket stretcher, or Stokes litter, is shaped like a basket to help in woods or mountains. It has high sides and can be lifted by a helicopter. A scoop stretcher is used to lift people from the ground. It can split into two halves to slide under a patient. There are also flexible stretchers made of heavy cloth with many handles. These are great for moving people through very narrow hallways.

Stretchers help us understand how medical teams stay organized. Just like a car has a seatbelt, stretchers use straps to keep a patient safe. Most stretchers have parts that can move, like the head or the feet. Raising the head helps a person who has trouble breathing. Raising the feet can help a person in shock. After every use, workers clean the stretcher with a fresh sheet. This stops germs from spreading to the next person.

A stretcher is a specialized apparatus used to move patients who require medical care.

These devices are essential for transporting individuals who are unable to walk or move safely on their own. They are used primarily in acute out-of-hospital care settings. This includes work by emergency medical services (EMS), military units, and search and rescue personnel. Depending on the design, they may be called a cot, a litter, a gurney, or a pram. The primary goal of any stretcher is to provide a stable platform for medical transport.

Modern wheeled stretchers, often called gurneys, use complex mechanisms to assist medical workers.

These devices are often equipped with variable-height frames and wheels for easier movement over pavement. To ensure safety during transport, an integral lug on the stretcher locks into a sprung latch inside an ambulance. This prevents the device from sliding while the vehicle is in motion. Many modern models now include battery-powered hydraulics. These systems automatically raise or collapse the legs to reduce the workload on EMS personnel. This technology is important because these workers face a high risk of back injury from repetitive lifting.

Stretchers are designed with various adjustable parts to meet specific medical needs. The height of the bed can be changed to make transferring a patient easier. The head of the stretcher can be raised to a sitting position. This is especially helpful for patients experiencing respiratory distress. Conversely, the head can be lowered flat to perform CPR or to support patients with suspected spinal injuries. Some models can also raise the feet into the Trendelenburg position. This specific angle is indicated for patients who are in shock.

To maintain hygiene, stretchers are usually covered with a disposable sheet and cleaned after every use to prevent infection.

Basic stretchers represent the most rudimentary and portable category of these tools. These are often lightweight and made of canvas or synthetic material. The material is suspended between two poles or a tubular aluminum frame. Some versions are folding stretchers, also known as collapsible stretchers. These feature hinged points of articulation that allow them to fold into a compact form for storage. Another specialized type is the Roberson orthopedic stretcher, or scoop stretcher. This device can be detached into two longitudinal halves. Rescuers place the halves under a patient from either side and then fasten them back together.

Specialized litters are designed for high-risk or difficult environments. The basket stretcher, or Stokes litter, is shaped to accommodate an adult in a face-up position. It features raised sides and often includes a removable cover to protect the patient. These are used in search and rescue operations involving wooded terrain, slopes, or confined spaces. Once a person is secured, the litter can be carried by hand, mounted on an ATV, or even hoisted by a helicopter. Other devices like the Neil Robertson stretcher are specifically built for maritime settings. These allow for the secure transport of injured individuals through narrow passages or up steep ladders on ships.

History shows that the need for patient transport has existed for centuries.

Early manuscripts from the Middle Ages depict wounded knights being carried on stretchers. Simple stretchers remained common with militaries through the middle of the 20th century. During World War I, the French army used a specific type called the Nimier stretcher. This design allowed the patient to sit in a seated position. This shorter profile made it easier to turn the stretcher within narrow trenches. The term "gurney" for wheeled stretchers likely originated from Pacific Coast slang. Its use in hospital settings became well-established by the 1930s.

Today, several major companies lead the manufacturing of these essential medical tools. The Stryker Corporation in the United States is one of the largest producers of hospital beds and stretchers. Other significant companies include Ferno-Washington Inc. and Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. in the United States. International manufacturers also play a large role in the global market. For example, MeBer s.r.l. is an Italian manufacturer of emergency and rescue equipment. ROYAX s.r.o. is a Czech company that produces rescue and military stretchers. These companies ensure that medical teams have the specific tools required for diverse environments, from hospitals to remote rescue sites.