Which Types Of Stretchers Have Wheels?

Most of you have seen or learned about various kinds of stretchers; some have wheels while others do not; some stretchers have 2 wheels, some have 4, and some have 6 or more.

But why? Why do some stretchers have wheels, and why do those have a different number of wheels? These are the questions you must be wondering about! Do not worry! In this blog, I will try to answer all your curious questions.

So, let us begin right away!

Checklist

1. What is Wheeled Stretcher?
2. Why not All Stretchers have Wheels?
3. Different Types of Wheeled Stretchers?

1) What Is Wheeled Stretcher?

In simple words, wheeled stretchers are stretchers fixed on simple wheels or on a specialized wheeled frame.

The main functions of wheeled stretchers are also like any other non-wheeled stretcher, which is to move an injured patient and provide rigid support during movement. But,

With the aid of wheels, the moving of a patient becomes very easy because wheels do all the lifting instead of persons.

So, that’s why some stretchers have wheels to make the patient’s motion effortless from one place to another by carrying them on wheels.

Now, you must be wondering, if wheeled stretchers are more useful than non-wheeled stretchers, then why not all stretchers have wheels? Because

Figure 1 Various types of Wheeled Stretchers

2) Why Not All Stretchers Have Wheels?

Not all stretchers have wheels because Wheeled stretchers have limitations; for example,

• Can not be moved on bumpy and damaged floors, such as on fire buildings, e.t.c.
• Are not ideal for moving on stairs ( except stair stretchers ) because the constant shaking on stair steps may damage the patient,
• Full wheeled-framed stretchers are too heavy to move on stairs as well as all the way to the top floor of a big building.
• On 2-wheel stretchers, patients can be moved only in a vertical position, meaning all the bodyweight will mostly be shifted on a skeleton, which may cause damage to the spine, limb, or other severe injury patients.
• Other…

So, wheeled stretchers do ease the movement of patients in most cases, but they are not ideal for every situation and place, which is why we have not attached wheels to all kinds of stretchers.

Non-wheeled stretchers do increase the work and need more people, but they can be used in almost every environment. Examples of non-wheel stretchers are scoop stretchers, vacuum stretchers, flexible stretchers, Neil-Robertson stretchers, spine boards, basket stretchers, and so on.

It is true that non-wheel stretchers can be used in every situation, and wheel stretchers can not, but it is also true that wheel stretchers are better to use in some situations than non-wheeled stretchers.

So, in summary, you can say that wheel, and non-wheeled stretchers have their own use, which ones are better than the other, will totally depend on the usage situation.

3)  Different Types Of Wheeled Stretchers?

Depending upon the area of use, patient positioning angle, and number of wheels, wheeled stretchers come in 4 kinds;

• Wheeled Simple Stretchers
• Handtruck Stretcher
• Stair Stretcher
• Gurney

a) Wheeled Simple Stretchers

These are the simplest kind of wheeled stretchers. Wheeled simple stretchers are mostly made of cloth material fixed between metal pipes or a metal frame. On the underside, there may be 2-wheels attached to one end, and 2 metal pads at the other end, or a total of 4 wheels attached at both ends.

The main functions of wheeled stretchers are;

• Simple 2-wheel stretchers simply move to and fro in their current position; they are not designed to move patients from one place to another.
• Advance chair 2-wheel stretchers can be literally converted into a wheelchair and can be used to move patients from one place to another.
• 4-wheel stretchers can move to and fro, as well as left and right because they have swivel wheels at one end. They can be used to move a patient in their current position, as well as move them over a large distance.

Both above 2-wheel and 4-wheel are made by simply adding simple wheels to simple stretchers, so they are light in weight and can also be used as non-wheel stretchers, just fold the wheels ( if option available ) and carry the stretchers simply by hand

Besides wheel numbers, wheeled simple stretchers come in 2 collapsing options;

• 2-fold wheel simple stretcher
• 4-fold wheel simple stretcher

2-fold stretchers are hinged at the center(s) and can be folded lengthwise ( and also widthwise in many designs ), almost half their size.

Figure 2.2 2-Fold Process in Folding Stretcher

4-fold stretchers are hinged 3 times along each pipe length ( at 25% length, in half, and again at 75% length of each pipe ) and can be folded 1/4th of their original length. While in the case of their width ( in many models ), only half can be decreased, just like 2-fold stretchers.

Figure 2.3 4-Fold Process in Folding Stretchers

b)  Handtruck Stretcher

Handtruck Stretchers are also becoming very famous these days. They are like normal spine boards, but they have two wheels and a standing pad at the foot side.

The main functions of Handtruck Stretcher are;

• Can be used to move patients in a standing position from one place to another by carrying them on wheels on level floors, as well as on stairs.
• Can also be used as a normal handheld carrying spine-board when needed, just by folding the sanding pad in a close position. But it will need three persons to lift instead of two because there are no holes for hands at the foot side and will need two persons to lift the board from side handles at foot size and one person to lift from front handles.

There is a limitation in using this board as a spine board because when you are using it on wheels, the patient is standing on feet, which means all the body-weight is shifted on a skeleton, and the pressure will cause damage as well as pain if you are transporting a spine, limb, and other bone injury patients. Plus, heart and other injury patients also can not be transported vertically. But,

Handtruck Stretchers have their own uses and can be used to move patients on wheels by usually just one person in hospitals, homes, lifts, large buildings, offices, industries, and so on. And the best thing they can be used on stairs in addition to leveled surfaces.

Figure 3 Hand Truck Medical Stretcher

c) Stair Stretcher

Stair stretchers are just like wheelchairs, but they have special features which make them fit for use on stairs in addition to normal floors.

There are 3 main kinds of stair stretchers;

• Normal Stair Stretcher
• Belting System Gliding Stretcher
• Fully Automatic Gliding Stair Stretcher

Normal Stair Stretcher: These stretchers have 4-wheels, but to move on stairs, one person holds the back handles, the other holds the extendable front handles, and they will both simply lift the chair completely and carry all the way down or up the stairs on hands. For storage, the seat can be folded to decrease chair space.

Figure 4.1 Normal Stair Stretcher

Belting System Gliding Stretcher: Such stretchers also look like normal stair stretchers, but they have a belting system at the back in addition to 4 wheels. For moving these stretchers on stairs, extend the belting system, shift all weight on the belts, and then slowly move it on stairs by usually only holding from the main back handle. Finally, when done, fold the belting system and use the belting system stretcher as a normal wheelchair on the floor.

A Belting system in these stretchers comes in two options, motor-powered and manual versions; motor-powered ones are very more easy and safe to operate while manual ones mainly depend on personal strength and can be exhausting. You can fold the main seat, belting system, and handle(s) to store a stretcher in a small space when not in use.

Figure 4.2 Manual Vs. Motor Powered Belting System Stair Stretchers

Fully Automatic Gliding Stair Stretcher: Basically, these are not stretchers but are more like fully automatic wheelchairs. These Automatic stretchers / wheelchairs have an advanced motor-powered belting system that comes in contact with the ground just by a push of a button to climb or descend stairs and can be used by the user himself/herself without the aid of any helper. These are the highest in price in all kinds of stair stretchers / wheelchairs.

Figure 4.3 Fully Automatic Stair Wheelchair Stretcher

d) Gurney

In Wheeled stretchers, you can say a Gurney is the most used one. A Gurney is also known as an Ambulance stretcher, Collapsible Ambulance stretcher, Folding Hospital Stretcher, e.t.c.

Gurney is basically a stretcher fixed on a wheeled frame, but the bed is made of foam, unlike in normal stretchers. Gurney may have one or more of these additional mechanisms;

• Foldable wheel frame
• Adjustable height wheel frame
• Motor(s) to lower or raise gurney
• A structure to hold infusion bottles
• Adjustable Backrest ( usually up to 65° )
• A structure to attach stretcher with an ambulance during motion
• More…

In a collapsible wheel frame gurney, the legs automatically fold and open when you load or unload from the ambulance.

Gurney usually come in 3-main kinds;

• Simple Gurney
• Collapsible Gurney
• Advance Chair Gurney

Simple Gurneys have a fixed-wheeled frame that can not be folded. Collapsible Gurneys only have adjustable height wheel-frame, while Advance Chair Gurneys also have an ” into wheelchair conversion mechanism” in addition to an adjustable height mechanism.

Gurneys are mostly used in;

• Hospitals
• Elevators
• City Roads
• Ambulance
• More…

Figure 5 Various Kinds of Gurneys Ambulance Stretchers