Many years ago the team carried Scoop Stretchers on all its vehicles, but these were taken out of service and replaced by Long Boards and Head Blocks, which remain on all our vehicles.
Recently the team in line with new advice and current clinical practices, and to have in use compatible equipment with that now carried on NWAS Emergency Ambulances and the North West Air Ambulance Service helicopters, decided to re-equip itself with the latest generation of Scoop Stretchers.
Following an evaluation period and taking advice from many of our partners, including NWAS (Greater Manchester), GMFRS and Hospital Accident and Emergency Departments, the team looked at products available including the kind loan evaluation of a Ferno Scoop Stretcher supplied recently by SP Services (UK) Limited. (With thanks to Josh Brown for his help and assistance)
It was decided to purchase four Ferno Scoop 65 EXL Stretchers from SP Services (UK) Limited, (Which included the retention of the Scoop Stretcher already with the team on trial) and with the delivery of two of these (We are awaiting the delivery of one more) three were put in to team service today.
These Scoop Stretchers now equip our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicles Bolton Mobiles 1,2 and 3. (BM4 will be equipped when the last scoop stretcher on order gets delivered).
In total the purchase of all four of these stretchers and their casualty restraint straps totals £2,316.00.
The Ferno Scoop 65 EXL Stretcher is an ergonomically designed lightweight stretcher which facilitates access to awkward spaces and allows easy movement in confined areas. It features;
- Twin safety lock hinges allow fast uncoupling of one or both ends
- Resistant to corrosion, heat, cold and body fluids
- 8 kg total weight
- Seamless construction makes cleaning easy
- Load capacity of 158 kg
- X-Ray translucent
- Oval profile and angled handles provide ergonomic ease of use
In team use these stretchers will add to the versatility and variety of specialist equipment we can use in casualty handling situations, and will compliment our specialist mountain rescue full length vacuum mattresses and our Long boards and head blocks.
The team is grateful to Mr Michael Newman, Worshipful Master, New Trinity Lodge 4595 for a recent donation of £610.00 which has been utilised against the purchase of these items of equipment. (Please see website ‘News’ item dated Wednesday 30th October 2013)
