How to Transport a Patient on a Gurney

One of the most widely used contraptions in the medical world, gurneys are vital fixtures for ambulances, clinics and hospitals. Their purpose is simple: to transport patients to the places they will be treated. In the hopeful scenario where you are the one pushing the gurney rather than the one being pushed, you'll be better off understanding how these narrow, wheeled frames function.

Instructions

• 1

  Place the patient on the gurney. Be sure that the wheels to the gurney are in the locked position and side rails are lowered when making the transfer. Use a backboard (also called a transfer board or slide board) if you are transferring from another cot (as in from an ambulance stretcher to a hospital gurney), with the patient still strapped in for safety, supported by one or more carriers at either end, depending on the patient's weight.

• 2

  Secure the patient to the gurney. To keep the patient from sliding or falling off the gurney, especially during transport, fasten the straps over the legs, waist and upper torso (leaving the arms outside the strap in most cases).

• 3

  Transfer the patient on the gurney. Since many gurneys and wheeled stretchers are prone to tipping, especially when covering uneven ground or navigating the tight turns of a hospital, care should be taken that a "loaded" gurney does not topple. For the stability of the gurney and safety of the patient, keep the gurney in a low position when it is being moved.

• 4

  Keep the patient's feet facing forward when transporting to the next destination, as patients often complain of nausea when they are moved backward.

• 5

  Angle the gurney according to a medical decision once it has reached its destination. Placing the head higher than the feet (incline) allows the patient to breathe easier, while placing the feet above the head (decline) sends more blood to the brain.