Putting all patients on stretcher

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jemt

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So what's everyone's position on transporting pt. on captains chair/bench seat instead of stretcher?

I know people who are strictly against it and others who use it more than the stretcher.
 
Unless there is a second patient or a family member along for the ride, the captains chair is for providers only round these parts.
 
Position of comfort, if they want to sit why not in the captains chair? Always providing they are stable of course...could rename the captains chair as the frequent fliers seat!!! I've transported 2 from an MVA, one on a stretcher and one on captains chair, almost had 3 on that trip (had to check with the supervisor on that but the third decided to take himself to the emergency room - he'd have had to sit on the bench with me).
 
Honestly it's just easier for me to put everyone on the stretcher. It's easier for me to assess them and take vitals, and then I can retire to the captain's chair to write my PCR if the patient has no further desire to talk to me. Once at the hospital I think it's easier to just wheel them around instead of trying to keep track of a patient in a busy ED. I am more than happy to assist the patient to a wheelchair if that's what the ED would like to do with a patient with a low-priority complaint.
 
Sometimes patient's don't ride on the stretcher, depending on their preference or their absolute BS status, but that seat is MINE.

The only people who get to sit in that chair are small children who need the seatbelt harness that's built into it. Sometimes there are just no car seats available, and I try really hard to always have the kids restrained properly. Heck- I'd say that those kids probably get absolute BS status, or I'd get out the pedi-mate.
 
I let my PT's drive, You guys don't do that? :ph34r:

Position of Least discomfort. (saw this in a thread yesterday can't recall who post it but i like)
 
As primarily IFTs obviously all patients on stretchers. From 911 standpoint... I sit in that chair. I would like to limit my exposure to random weird unknown germs and funky patient things as much as possible. There's no sheet on the caps chair. If all pts are on the stretcher its easier to control exposure and easier to disinfect after a call.
 
B.s. 911 patients who can walk will be seated on the bench. The cot is for sick people.
 
On the gurney. Unless I am transporting more then one person.

Family is up front in the passenger seat.

Patient has to come in on the gurney (unless there is more then one patient). If we get in an accident the first thing said will be "why wasn't he on the gurney?!" More then likely followed up by a lawsuit (there is actually a lawyer in my area who advertises that if you were in an ambulance accident and got hurt to contact him).
 
Unless I have more then one patient, they go on the cot. They may walk to the ambulance, but they will ride in the stretcher. Why? Because it's safer for the patient (when buckled in), and it's easier to work around them. I can buckle myself in and still take vitals and face the patient. On the captains chair, vitals require me to squat on the floor.
Also very few people find the position of sitting up with their legs straight uncomfortable. if for some reason they cannot tolerate that position, then we can talk about the captain's chair. For pediatrics its also different, they may end up in the captains chair by virtue of it having a built in carseat.
 
The only patients that sit are "stable" psychs.

The ones that haven't given the ER any trouble, or the depressed teenagers.

If I even get the slightest funny feeling, they go on the stretcher.

And that applies only to IFT.
 
firecoins said:
B.s. 911 patients who can walk will be seated on the bench. The cot is for sick people.
Click to expand...

Quoted for truth.

Like others have said, the airway chair is mine. Rear facing with a seatbelt vs sideways facing.
 
rescue1 said:
Unless I have more then one patient, they go on the cot. They may walk to the ambulance, but they will ride in the stretcher. Why? Because it's safer for the patient (when buckled in), and it's easier to work around them. I can buckle myself in and still take vitals and face the patient. On the captains chair, vitals require me to squat on the floor.
Also very few people find the position of sitting up with their legs straight uncomfortable. if for some reason they cannot tolerate that position, then we can talk about the captain's chair. For pediatrics its also different, they may end up in the captains chair by virtue of it having a built in carseat.
Click to expand...

LIKE

:beerchug:
 
jemt said:
So what's everyone's position on transporting pt. on captains chair/bench seat instead of stretcher?

I know people who are strictly against it and others who use it more than the stretcher.
Click to expand...

The Captain's Chair is where my company's onboard child safety seat is. Otherwise it's mine as well... usually.

As far as the cot on all pts thing goes, I'll use the cot on the nonemergent ambulatory when their height, weight, age, past medical history, etc make climbing into the back of the truck impractical.

Load 'em up. Pull 'em out. Put 'em in a wheelchair. Life is good.
 
I'll put patients with minor complaints in the captain's chair and walk them in.
 
It really depends on your local protocols. Mine state that authorized field personal and patients may sit in the captains chair only while wearing the authorized cardboard burger king crown.
 
Remember sick v. not sick?

Sick goes on the stretcher(or if they're non ambulatory or for some other reason it's impossible/impractical for them to get in and sit on the bench)

Not sick goes on the bench.

Crybabies who say they need to lay down lay on the stretcher ride on the stretcher, then walk out once we're at the hospital.

Captains chair is for me or my partner(and little ones since we have that fold-out strappy, buckley restrainey thingy).

Nobody rides up front, ever. If we let somebody who isn't a pt ride with us, they go on the bench, not up front
 
Trashtruck said:
Remember sick v. not sick?

Sick goes on the stretcher(or if they're non ambulatory or for some other reason it's impossible/impractical for them to get in and sit on the bench)

Not sick goes on the bench.

Crybabies who say they need to lay down lay on the stretcher ride on the stretcher, then walk out once we're at the hospital.

Captains chair is for me or my partner(and little ones since we have that fold-out strappy, buckley restrainey thingy).

Nobody rides up front, ever. If we let somebody who isn't a pt ride with us, they go on the bench, not up front
Click to expand...

My what an awesome attitude :rolleyes:

If I thought the majority of providers with this kind of attitude could determine sick vs not sick effectively I'd be a bit less skeptical.

Also, why put non patients on the bench instead of the much safer front seat?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Usalsfyre,
Please, explain your perception of my attitude.

Also, please explain how you judged my assessment skills and clinical decision making, inferring I somehow am incompetent in determining who is 'sick' and 'not sick', or, alternatively, 'B.S. 911' as firecoins stated from a few sentences.
 
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