I dont know what model but it is their newest self-loading power stretcher.
The design issues I am talking about are with their older, manual stretchers. When lifting the stretcher from ground level, both people pull to chest height and the wheel base is supposed to drop and lock. This rarely happens. The person at the foot can adjust their handle lower to help with ergonomics but the person at the head has to lift a considerable distance. Usually, the bottom does not fall into position and the person at the head will push the bottom with their foot. While we were harshly lectured by the Ferno rep for doing this, it is almost always necessary. Pushing the base with your foot can push the base out the other side, into the person who is positioned at the foot's knee. This also drops the patient. Further, to get the patient in load postion is a challenge for all other than crossfit junkies. The rep came out and showed us the "proper" medthod for these processes and explained how easy it actualy is. My buddy actually asked the rep if we were in trouble by the way he was talking to us ( I realize this isnt directly a problem with the stretcher design but I think this guy is tired of hearing how bad these stretchers are). It would be as is a gunmaker produced a pistol that had to be fired with perfect hand placement or it would shoot the owner.
My biggest problem with this stretcher is that it requires a specific techinique to operate and ANY deviation can have serious consequences including injury to providers and patients. We have dropped several patients and had many near misses. The Strykers are almost firefighter proof. We can try to operate them in anyway possible and they do not pose a risk to the patient of provider.
I am open to seeing what their power stretcher/load system is but I will be forever cautious of a company that produces such an irresponsible product.
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