Power Cots

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Permalink Reply by Mike vW on July 1, 2009 at 12:22am

Our agency, a city / county system with both urban and rural response areas, went to power cots several years ago. While they are expensive, we saw a significant drop in our employee back injuries and the subsequent workers compensation claims. Essentially we paid for the difference between a standard cot and a power cot within several years with just the tremendous savings in our workers compensation claims, not to mention saving the backs of our paramedics.

They do have a different and more intensive maintenance schedule than a non-powered cot, something you need to factor into your planning / cost analysis. You also need to have multiple batteries available both on the unit and in the station charging.

From my perspective as a safety officer, they are worth the extra $, just in the backs saved. From a business model, they should pay for themselves in several years, in decreased injury / disability claims

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Permalink Reply by Dolph Holmes on July 1, 2009 at 1:29pm

While I don't have direct experience with the gurneys I have heard plenty, both positive and negative.
Look at both the battery operated and air operated ones. TRY them out. We had a loaner that our
fire company decided not to purchase. I was talking with a paramedic from another town who took
delivery on an air operated one and they love it. They do apx 1500 calls a year.

I do love the idea of saving backs and always hate additional mechanical items that won't function
properly when needed but you need to weigh the pluses and minuses for YOUR department.

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Permalink Reply by Chris on July 1, 2009 at 10:48pm

I'd like to go one step further, and do what the UK has been doing for years. The ramps and stretcher lifts; as well as the power stretchers, chairs. I used to see these tracks for descending stairs for Stryker Stretchers in Moore Medical. They don't seem to have it anymore, but that looked interesting. The current stretchers date back to about 1988. I would love to call up our local rep, and say; where do we sign?

With pressure from our insurance provider, they're just now looking into self lifting and lift-assist stretchers. It's unfortunate the rate of injuries had to dictate when we made the switch.

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Permalink Reply by AWALKER on July 31, 2009 at 2:45am

Love them back saver"""!!! but go up steeps suck because of the extra wt of the cot about 40 lbs.

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Permalink Reply by Nicole Moyer on August 9, 2009 at 3:53am

Both services that I work for have Stryker power cots. I have only used manual cots a few times, but that was a few times too many! From what I've heard the power cots are definitely worth the money in back injuries saved!

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Permalink Reply by Scott C Jamieson on December 3, 2009 at 11:05pm

Being a volunteer EMS in the rural setting, we only come into contact with the Stryker cots when the EMT's from the larger area arrive. I can tell you that I noticed the hydraulic cots seem to freeze in the elements and are quite heavy when you drop the cot down to ground level and then lift the cot and the patient. The air cots do appear to be the better cot given our outside temperatures can get as low as -35c.

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Permalink Reply by Michele Logue on January 3, 2010 at 12:02am

Our service recently purchased the Ferno Power Flex. It is great for nursing home transfers and first flow easy access to patients but to have to carry the stretcher or lift up or down stairs, it's plain dam heavy. Add a good 50-75lbs onto the non=-powered units. We also received the roller stair chair with it and it is beneficial. If I had to think bakc, perhaps I would not purchase it.
Also have experienced some problesm with charging, it is a bugger when you power out loaded with a 400lb patient. Any one can call me at 618-920-0400 if they have any questions. We run rural EMS. Michele Logue

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