The most used stretcher-supports in Europe

supporti barella in europa

Each country has its “own” basic model for the ambulance stretcher base and support to use for rescue. The use of an ambulance stretcher is very important to provide person centred care.

The solution is made according to a mix of elements:

  • tradition
  • rescue organization
  • staff training
  • predisposition to technological innovation
  • budget

There is not a catch-all solution because each country-system is based on the prevalence of different elements than others.

A differentiated and dynamic scenario

A quick review shows that Italy and France still like to use manual stretcher-supports. On the other side, Germany is rather choosing for electrical stretcher-support, as the Netherlands already did. East-Europe countries look at the German model of emergency system and are changing from manual to electrical stretcher-supports, also high-tech solutions.

The data collected by Stem Technology stand for the situation in several European countries. More specifically, the 2.400 local organizations in Italy mainly use the MODU-1-TR and the MODU-2-TR stretcher-supports with single or double compartment and 300mm lateral movement with pedal activation.  

On the other side, France prefers the model R-3L which stands out for the several features and simplicity of use; it also has a safety system to unload the stretcher also in case of power failure, as in all the Stem electro-mechanical stretcher-supports.

In Germany people use more the electrical system MEC-EL even if the market is now looking for the advanced version Compact-EL, a stretcher-support with standard double-compartment to put the spinal-board and scoop stretcher. The tilting tray control allows to adjust the loading height: the pedal-release lateral movement allows to lock the stretcher-support in any position.

The trend towards the shock-absorbing stretcher-supports

There is a growing interest in advanced stretcher-supports and the suspension mode is an indispensable innovation for different types of patients, such as polytrauma patients, who need a reduction in the vibrations and jumps due to the numerous artificial road bumps for a better clinical course.   
 
A patient’s experience who, following a road accident, had to undertake oxygen therapy in hyperbaric chamber for his limb recovery is enlightening. Transfer from the hospital ward implied two ambulance trips per day. The patient had undertaken numerous sessions on both rigid and shock-absorbing stretcher-supports. In the latter, the amount of vibrations transmitted to the injured limb was significantly lower, for the benefit of the therapy itself.

The market for electrical stretcher-supports – person centred care

Among the electrical stretcher-supports, the market is focusing on high level performance, as offered by two models in particular: OPTIMUS-PESP-TR and EDEN

The stretcher-support EDEN, thanks to its hydro-pneumatic shock-absorbing system allows for a reduction of vibrations, eliminating the motion sickness causing discomfort to the patient. In addition, EDEN adjusts suspension from 0 kg to 400 kg, thus adapting to any patient, even to children.
In collaboration with the University of Padua, Stem has studied and tested how to measure the efficiency and benefits of this stretcher-support, according to the ISO 2631-1 standard on the impact of vibration of human body during transport. It was found that low frequency vertical vibrations, the most damaging, are reduced by 50%. EDEN is then recommended for any transport: heart attack, polytrauma, intubated, neonatal and paediatric patients.

Emphasis on the operator and the safety of the patient – person centred care: the loading system

Nor should it be forgotten the importance of a loading system to simplify the loading and unloading of the stretcher that sometimes may cause serious illness to the operators’ musculoskeletal system.

A powered system such as the SHERPA that, thanks to a quick release belt, pulls or release the stretcher to/from the stretcher-support to eliminate the loading effort, also in case of bariatric transports. This also prevents accidents from occurring during the unloading phase: the safety belt “holds” the stretcher until when it is completely unfolded.      
In this context, the technological progress fosters a more emphatic approach in the operator. Free from mechanical efforts and with fewer concerns, the rescuer has more time to provide emotional and psychological support to the patient and his/her relatives, especially in cases of rescue at home.  

This overview on the choice of emergency and rescue devices in Europe gives a feeling that rescue vehicles are versatile and that ambulances are equipped with several types of stretcher-supports.