In safe hands with ER24’s advanced stretchers

Discover how ER24 ensures its state-of-the-art ergonomic stretchers meet international best practice for patient handling. Geoff Boulton, Branch Manager at ER24 Central, shares more.

Can you describe the advanced stretcher system ER24 uses?

ER24 operational crews use a heavy-duty manual X-frame stretcher built for high-performance emergency care. It’s light enough for quick deployment, but also durable enough to handle South Africa’s varied terrain. Our Site Based Medical Services (SBMS) teams sometimes use different types of stretchers, depending on what the situation requires. 

What makes this stretcher different from standard ones?

Unlike standard stretchers, it has seven height settings, so it can be adjusted to align with the height of various hospital beds or with the ambulance floor. It also has far fewer weld points than older models, making it more durable and easier to clean.

How does it keep patients safer during transport?

A floor-mounted hook and locking system stops the stretcher from accidentally rolling out. Dual wheel locks at the foot end, along with large 15cm wheels, keep it stable and help prevent tipping or swerving on uneven ground.

What comfort and adaptability features does this system offer?

The stretcher has a high-density mattress that distributes weight evenly and can carry up to 295kg, making it suitable for bariatric patients – in other words, patients who are severely obese or have had weight loss surgery, who require special handling in an emergency. In long-distance transfers, the pneumatic backrest adjusts the patient's head and torso to any angle between zero to 73 degrees, which is vital for patients with breathing difficulties. It also has a “shock position” that quickly raises the legs to help blood flow in seriously injured patients, and the head section can be removed to move the stretcher through tight or narrow spaces.

How do the stretchers support medical equipment?

We use built-in IV poles as well as secure brackets for oxygen cylinders. This keeps life-saving equipment attached to the stretcher, so patients can stay connected to oxygen and fluids while being moved from the scene to the ambulance.

What features help paramedics work more efficiently?

The backrest and side rails have a one-hand release, so we can quickly reach patients when needed. Controls are colour-coded (red for loading and unloading) to reduce mistakes in high-pressure situations. The design positions the lifting bars at a height that lets us use our leg muscles rather than our lower backs, and the low roll force wheels mean we save energy when moving heavy patients over distances.

How are paramedics trained on these systems?

Every practitioner must master the “two-man lift” protocols and the safety systems. We also train our crews on manual override procedures, so patient care is never compromised by mechanical issues. Our focus is on protecting the spines of both our patients and our crews.

Can you give examples of how these stretchers have improved patient care in real-life situations?

In critical trauma cases where every second counts, the stretcher’s stability has allowed our crews to perform life-saving interventions like maintaining airways or monitoring heart rhythms while moving at pace. We’ve found that being able to “shrink” the stretcher using the breakaway head section has often meant the difference between a smooth extraction and a delayed one in cramped urban environments.

How do you ensure reliability when lives depend on it?

We perform daily pre-shift inspections to check frame integrity and pneumatic function, with annual services for all load-bearing components to ensure they are in working order. The stretcher was chosen specifically for its mechanical reliability.

What’s next for ER24’s stretcher technology?

The global trend is toward fully powered systems that eliminate the need for lifting. Our mobile critical care retrieval services (ICU) vehicles already use these electronic lifting stretchers. We’re continuously evaluating new technologies to determine how they can work in South Africa’s emergency environment to further protect the health and safety of our staff and patients.