If you work at a medical care center, you know how hard it is to move a patient with vertebrae, pelvic, or other similar problems. For that, you will need a Vacuum stretcher which is the only one that can provide max immobilization and comfort for prolonged use.
To use a vacuum mattress stretcher, you must understand how it works and for what purpose it is used.
This post covers all the important sections you must know about using a vacuum mattress stretcher.
1) What Is A Vacuum Mattress Stretcher?
“A vacuum mattress stretcher is simply a fold-able sealed long bag in which a manual pump fills the air to make it like a mattress stretcher. It is an advanced type of stretcher that can move any kind of patient, especially vertebrae, pelvic, or similar patients.”
Features Of Vacuum Mattress Stretcher;
- It is made to ensure that no heat loss occurs from the patient’s body during usage.
- Pressure is divided more evenly, which decreases the chances of pressure ulcer creation.
- It is made of premium quality TPU / PVC / and other materials, which are very worn & tear-resistant.
- It adjusts its shape according to any injury, ensuring the patient is held securely, reducing the chances of secondary damage.
- It adjusts its shape according to any injury, which ensures the patient is held securely and reduces the chances of secondary injury.
- You can adjust the air pressure in the vacuum stretcher for different patient situations. For example, fill less air to make it soft for regular patients or fill more air to make it rigid for spine or similar patients, etc.
- More…
2) How Do You Use A Vacuum Stretcher?
Vacuum mattress stretchers are becoming more and more famous these days in the market. Vacuum stretchers need some time to prepare, while spine boards or other simple stretchers do not, but they are also more beneficial.
You can use a Vacuum mattress stretcher to carry a patient in 2-main steps;
- Preparation of Vacuum Stretcher
- Adjusting a casualty onto Vacuum Stretcher
Preparation of Vacuum Stretcher
Step 1: Get it Out
Get the folded vacuum stretcher & pump out of the bag. Unfold the stretcher properly on some ground / stretcher / etc.
“ To add extra comfort and smoothness for the patient, you may spread some polystyrene balls all over the mattress.
Step 2: Fill some Air
Fill air in the vacuum stretcher to get it in its shape. For filling the air;
- First, locate the valve, which should be at the bottom side.
- Secondly, Connect the pipe to it, and start pumping the air. Make sure to fill only enough air to get in its shape; the rest of the air will be filled later after putting a patient on it.
- After filling the air, separate the pipe and close the valve properly. So no air gets out ( in advance vacuum mattresses, the valve is automatically closed to ensure no air escape due to human error ).
Step 3: Cover with Sheet
Cover the vacuum stretcher with a clean sheet that will be wrapped around the casualty’s body.
It is not necessary to put a sheet, but it is suggested due to the below 3-main reasons;
- It ensures no direct interaction between the patient and the mattress’s plastic.
- It protects the mattress from getting punctured or torn by the patient’s jewelry or other sharp objects.
- When moving a patient on a vacuum stretcher without a scoop stretcher, the sheet helps adjust the patient onto the vacuum stretcher. Because the sheet can freely move, and with it, it can move the patient easily.
Adjusting a Casualty onto Vacuum Stretcher
Step 4: Move the Patient on it
You can move a casualty on a vacuum mattress there are 2-different ways;
- Pushing the vacuum stretcher under the patient
- By using a scoop stretcher
a) Pushing the Vacuum Stretcher Under the Patient
You can use this method if you do not have any simple stretcher ( scoop, spine board, etc. ) and only a vacuum stretcher.
Follow the below steps for a proper procedure;
- Place a sheet on the ground next to the patient. ( optional )
- Put a Vacuum stretcher on it and prepare it as I mentioned above.
- Now, put a sheet on a vacuum stretcher if you haven’t already in the preparation step. ( optional )
- At least 2~3 persons tilt the patient to one side, and 1 ~ 2 persons should push the vacuum stretcher under the patient.
- Move the patient back into a straight position, such that his body will now be on a vacuum stretcher.
- Now, adjust the patient on the stretcher by sliding ( or by moving the sheet if present )
b) By Using a Scoop Stretcher
If you have both a scoop stretcher and a vacuum mattress stretcher, then you can use this method;
Follow the below steps for a proper procedure;
- Place the vacuum stretcher on flat ground or a gurney. And prepare it as I mentioned above.
- Place the scoop stretcher ( with the patient on it ) on the vacuum stretcher.
- Lift the patient’s head with a cloth. Then, separate scoop stretcher locks from the head side first, then the feet side.
- Pull away both sides of the scoop stretcher very carefully.
- That’s all; the patient is now on the vacuum stretcher.
Step 5: Secure the Patient on Stretcher
Now, after a patient on the vacuum stretcher;
- Adjust him in the center correctly.
- Then secure him by using all the belts and buckles of the body area.
- Adjust the built-in headrest carefully.
Step 6: Fill Air Completely
Finally, fill the air into the stretcher with the air pump until desired rigidity is reached.
In this process, when you fill the air into the vacuum stretcher,
- It molds itself according to the patient’s body shape, reducing the chances of secondary injury.
- Provide comfort by acting as a soft mattress.
Step 7: Secure Patient on Gurney
If you have already placed a vacuum stretcher on a gurney, simply attach all the belts of the gurney with the patient’s body.
But if your vacuum stretcher is on the ground, and now you want to place it on a gurney. In that case, lift the vacuum mattress stretcher with at least 3 persons, 1 on each side and 1 holding the head. Afterward, attach the gurney belts with the patient. That’s all; now, you are ready to move patients anywhere you want.
3) When Should You Use A Vacuum Mattress Stretcher?
You can use a Vacuum Stretcher in the following areas of life;
✓ For Spinal & Similar Cases
✓ Manually move patients
✓ Ambulance Patients
✓ For Kids & Old People’s Comfort:
✓ For X-ray & Similar Scans
✓ More…
- For Spinal & Similar Cases: You can use it to provide equal and even pressure to the patient’s body, making it a better option for vertebrae, limb, etc., patients than the standard stretchers.
- Manually move patients: Use this as a regular stretcher to move all injury patients over short distances.
- Ambulance Patients: Use this stretcher to move any kind of patient on ambulances to hospitals or anywhere else.
- For Kids & Old People Comfort: It provides comfort to kids & older adults on a rigid stretcher who do not bear hard surfaces beneath them.
- For X-ray & Similar Scans: It allows X-ray / CT scan / MRI, which is very time-saving. Because when a patient comes to a hospital on a vacuum stretcher in an ambulance, you do not need to transfer it to other things for such scans.
“This medical equipment is a good choice for schools, emergency centers, armies, hospitals, ambulances, gymnasiums, stations, and other places. Because there are chances of frequent accidents, and you want a compact size product.”
4) Comparison Between Vacuum Stretcher Vs. Spine Board
| Vacuum Stretcher | Spine Board | |
| Preparation time | More | Less |
| Price | Expensive | Cheaper |
| Weight | Lighter | Heavier |
| Portable | More portable due to its easy folding feature | Less portable as it can not be folded |
| Foldable | Yes | No |
| X-Rays / CT Scan / MRI | ✓✓✓ | X |
| Uses | Can be used for any injury patient, especially spine / pelvic / limb injury patients. | Due to being rigid, it can only be used for patients with suspected spinal / pelvic / limb injury. |
| Provide Equal Pressure | ✓✓✓ | X |
| Mold to Patient & Hold More Securely | ✓✓✓ | X |
| Comfort | ✓✓✓ | X |
| Chances of Secondary Injury | Less | More |
| Best for Spine & Similar Patients | ✓✓✓ | ✓ |
In light of all the above factors, medical professionals now prefer vacuum mattresses over spine boards.
Plus, there are studies that;
- If you put a spinal injury patient on a spine board for too long,
- Or if you put a patient who has no spinal injury, but you just speculated it,
Then in both cases, more harm will be done to the patient by the spine board than benefit.
“ So, always use a vacuum stretcher where head, neck, vertebra, pelvic, or limb injury is suspected over spine boards.”
