How can a stretcher be best used in emergency healthcare simulations?

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Pocket Nurse - April 15, 2026 24

How can a stretcher be best used in emergency healthcare simulations?

In emergency healthcare simulations, a stretcher is far more than a prop – it’s a key tool for teaching realistic patient assessment, safe transport, teamwork, and decision-making under pressure. Here’s how to use it most effectively:

1. Patient Assessment & Initial Response

A stretcher helps learners practice:

Primary and secondary surveys while the “patient” is positioned realistically.
C-spine precautions when transferring trauma patients.
Use of monitoring equipment (e.g., attaching vital signs monitors while the patient is on a stretcher).

Tip: Incorporate moulage (makeup that depicts injury) and manikins to enhance realism.

2. Safe Lifting & Moving Techniques

Stretcher use is essential for training proper body mechanics:

Log-rolling, lifting, and pivoting with multiple responders.
Practicing use of side rails, brakes, and belting to avoid common safety issues.
Loading/unloading into an ambulance with realistic weight and coordination challenges.

Tip: Add timed drills to force controlled speed under pressure.

3. Teamwork & Communication Skills

Emergency transport requires synchronized action. A stretcher allows teams to train:

Closed-loop communication (“Holding head. Ready to lift.”)
Role delegation (airway manager, stretcher operator, medic, etc.).
Navigation in tight or cluttered environments—hallways, elevators, uneven terrain.

Tip: Simulate obstacles to require coordinated problem-solving.

4. Integration With Medical Procedures

Stretcher-based simulations can include:

IV insertion and fluid management while the stretcher is moving or angled.
Cardiac arrest scenarios with CPR boards or automatic compression devices.
Trauma interventions (tourniquets, splinting, wound packing) in a realistic patient position.

Tip: Use adjustable stretchers to simulate shock positioning or respiratory distress posture.

5. Scenario Immersion & Realism

A stretcher anchors scenarios in believable settings:

Mass casualty incidents where triage tags and patient prioritization matter.
Hospital handoffs, training how EMS communicates with ED staff.
Transport within hospitals (ED → imaging, ICU → OR), reinforcing workflow understanding.

Tip: Use standardized participants or smart/high fidelity manikins to simulate patient reactions (pain, anxiety, deterioration).

6. Safety & Error Identification

Simulations allow learners to practice avoiding real-world stretcher mistakes: