Snow ambulances and snow rescue: news from the Stem world

Every year around 30.000 individuals are involved in an accident on ski slopes, of which almost 1.500 need help, care, or hospitalization, requiring the help of snow ambulances. Not to mention almost 20 fatalities on ski slopes every year.

Recovery in such a singular environment requires specific equipment and tools. To meet this need, Stem has designed Snow ambulance – an emergency transport system ready for snowmobile tow and designed to easily work on snowy grounds or slopes.

The Snow ambulances suspension system

For thirty years Stem has been pursuing extensive research on how to reduce patient stresses due to transportation. It has confirmed its position as the leader in the industry. This product stands out precisely for the suspension system onto which there is a module made up of a containment chamber with a stretcher. The system comes with four hydro-pneumatic suspensions, independent with each other and self-leveling. This innovative stabilization system allows compensating for ground unevenness (up to +/- 25%), also lateral slopes, differently from other devices for snow rescue. Furthermore, the tilting of the upper module in addition to allow for the patient to remain in the horizontal position, allow to perform the Trendelenburg and anti-Trendelenburg.

Containment chamber: comfort and safety

Thanks to thermal insulation it is possible to maintain a stable temperature inside the chamber, avoiding exposing the patient to the risk of hypothermia. Lowering suspension to the minimum height and uncovering the containment chamber, it is very easy to position the patient inside whatever their condition is. The stretcher allows to adjust the backrest in a semi-sitting position and comes with a comfortable mattress. The chamber is equipped with a heating system intended to ensure the ideal conditioning, making Snow ambulance ideal also for the most delicate patients, such as aged people or pregnant women.

Compatible accessories and adaptability

Thanks to one or more external metal racks (rail), it is possible to secure all necessary medical devices without minimizing vital space for the patient. It is possible to install monitoring and resuscitation systems, including oxygen therapy, infusion, and suction device. To bring cabling and tubes inside the chamber, one of the portholes integrates an iris valve ensuring tight closure.

Snow ambulances: module control and versatility

Snow transport, in case of an emergency during transportation, allow to open the upper part of the chamber to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Furthermore, being transparent, the upper part of the chamber ensures good visibility for both the patient who will benefit from greater safety and the rescuers who can always keep the patient under control.

The entire module can be easily removed from the suspension system and installed pm a specific stretcher for ambulance transport. The possibility to use one single module for both transportation on the snow and ambulance transport, without further moving the patient, reduces the risks for the monitored patient without interruption and makes transportation quicker. Monitoring devices, thanks to the rack system, do not need to be removed during transportation, they are always in contact with the patient.

Versatility and adaptability make Snow transport a reliable rescue system in any emergency situation on snowy grounds.

To read more about the safety in the mountains, read the article Mountain Safety: prevention, injuries and Alpine Rescue on The EMS Blog!