What is it about?
Scoop stretchers are a rigid device coated in a hard polyurethane which ambulance crews use to immobilise injured patients. Often, ambulance crews place patients on these after removal of the patient's clothing. When stored without access to heating, these pieces of equipment may be particularly cold. There may be risks not yet identified. So our study aimed to assess the if there was a correlation between the temperature of scoop stretchers and outside temperatures.
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Why is it important?
There may be risks not yet identified when scoop stretchers are very cold.
Perspectives
Ambulance crews often complain about these pieces of equipment being very cold and (anecdotally) are concerned that placing patients on cold equipment may be detrimental. Without evidence, this remains just an anecdotal concern. This small piece of evidence may help further research into this concern.
Anthony Haley
Scottish Ambulance Service
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The effect of ambient outside temperatures on scoop stretchers, Journal of Paramedic Practice, August 2023, Mark Allen Group,
DOI: 10.12968/jpar.2023.15.8.338.
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