My Fire based EMS is looking for an SOG regarding our Ambulance Stretcher and it's uses. Particularly, we are looking for how others deal with "steps" and stretchers. Our EMS currently has an unwritten rule per say that the Stretcher is not to go into areas that require traversing any steps. This in part is due to a response that our EMS was involved with over 2 years ago. A patient was placed onto a stretcher and ultimately removed from the residence on said stretcher. This involved having to desend 4-6 steps and unfortunately the stretcher with the patient were dropped. Fortunately no additional injury was created by this event. Fortunately the services involved did not have any litigation brought against them. Our unwritten rule provided by EMS is a "no steps" policy. Any steps that need to be desended will be done with either a stair chair, reeves stretcher, etc. This is currently being challenged by some simply because it is not in writing. Common sense should prevail, however the as the saying goes... if it is not written....

This is not a case of having an axe to grind. It is simply a case of asking if anyone out there has a written EMS SOG relating to this topic. Our stretcher is a Stryker Power Litter. While we are at it, if anyone would be willing to share any Fire.Rescue/EMS SOG's, it would be greatly appreciated as we are currently doing a review/overhaul of ours.