With the popularity of urban high-rise buildings and the aging of the population, the stair stretcher, as a kind of professional equipment used for the safe transfer of patients or mobility-impaired people up and down the stairs, is more and more valued by hospitals, nursing homes, first aid centers, fire fighting units, and home users. In the face of the market a wide variety of different functions of the stair stretcher, how to choose a suitable for the needs of the product? This article will be from the material, functional characteristics, portability, ease of use, price and other five key dimensions, to provide you with purchase advice.

First, the material: the balance of lightweight and strength

The material determines the overall weight, load-bearing capacity and durability of the stair stretcher. Common materials include:

High-strength aluminum alloy: light weight, corrosion-resistant, suitable for high-frequency handling and outdoor rescue use, easy to carry and operate, is currently widely used material.

Stainless steel: high strength, strong impact resistance, suitable for hospitals and other scenes that require long-term use and focus on stability, but relatively heavy.

Carbon steel: relatively inexpensive, but easy to rust, suitable for units with limited budgets and low frequency of use.

Suggestions: If you need portable operation, it is recommended to prioritize the choice of aviation aluminum alloy material; such as higher requirements for the strength of the equipment, you can consider stainless steel frame structure.

Second, the functional characteristics: the key to match the application scene

Different stair stretcher design function difference is obvious, should be combined with the use of the scene to choose:

Electric crawler stair stretcher (also known as crawler electric stair climbing wheelchair): equipped with electric drive device, can be operated by a single person up and down the stairs, especially suitable for elderly families, emergency centers, urban communities.

Electric crawler stair stretcher  (also known as crawler electric stair climbing wheelchair)

Manual Crawler Stair Stretcher: relying on crawler and manual cooperation sliding, simple operation, suitable for units with limited budget but certain requirements for convenience.

Manual Crawler Stair Stretcher (Evacuation Chair)

Folding stair chair stretcher: compact size, suitable for narrow space environment and daily preparation, easy to store and carry.

Folding stair chair stretcher (Transfer Stretcher)

Multi-functional composite: integrated seat, flat stretcher function, suitable for multi-scene, multi-functional switching use, such as emergency rescue vehicle configuration.

Suggestions: according to whether the need for single-operator, whether the emergency use of the scene and the budget situation to choose the functional configuration.

Third, portability: the convenience of transportation and storage

In the process of medical transportation and emergency rescue, the volume and foldability of the equipment directly affects the use of efficiency:

Does it support fast folding, so that one person can finish unfolding and storing?

Is it easy to carry and put into the vehicle or equipment room after folding?

Does it come with wheels, a handle or a storage bag to improve mobility?

Suggestion: For frequent movement scenarios (e.g. ambulance, outdoor rescue), choosing a portable stair stretcher that can be folded and has wheels will significantly improve efficiency.

Ease of Use: Reducing Operator Burden

The safety and simplicity of operation is very important to medical and rescue personnel:

Is the operation ergonomically designed, easy to hold and control?

Does it have humanized design such as adjustable footrest, headrest and fixation belt to improve patient comfort?

Does it support one-person operation or does it require the cooperation of several people?

Suggestion: For scenarios where the user's skill level is not high or there is a shortage of personnel, give priority to product design that is electric or simplifies the operation process.

V. Price and cost-effectiveness: focus on the overall cost rather than unit price

Price is always an important factor in purchasing decisions. However, in the purchase of medical equipment, it is more important to focus on the price/performance ratio and the whole life cycle cost:

Not only compare the purchase price, but also consider the later maintenance costs, spare parts replacement costs and after-sales service guarantee;

Whether it supports customized functions or upgrading and expansion;

Whether the brand qualification is reliable, whether it has export experience and relevant certifications (such as CE, FDA, etc.);

Suggestion: For government procurement, medical institutions and other long-term use of customers, should give priority to the choice of brand maturity, perfect after-sales service manufacturers, to avoid the risk of “low price, low quality”.

Conclusion: Use the scene as the core to make a wise choice!

Choosing a stair stretcher is not a simple procurement behavior, but a decision about safety, efficiency and responsibility. Only from the actual use of demand, combined with the product's material, function, portability, ease of use and price and other factors for a comprehensive assessment, in order to find the real “suitable for your stair stretcher”.

As a professional staircase stretcher manufacturer, we can provide a wide range of products according to different customer's use environment and budget needs, and support OEM/ODM customization service. If you need to know more about the product parameters or get the selection advice, welcome to contact our sales consultant.

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