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Old 17th Aug 2003, 05:07
  #389 (permalink)  
GLSNightPilot
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Texas
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We just fold the seats down & put the stretcher on the backs. I haven't found a better way. Putting the stretcher on the floor makes it awkward for the medics to attend the patient. What is needed is a standard set of seats for the center row which allows the backs to fold without using wrenches. Putting a stretcher containing a big patient inside, with the patient fore-and-aft on one side, is awkward at best, & can be very painful for the patient, as I've seen more than once. A Bell 412 makes this much easier, since all the seat backs fold down easily. The S76, with the center two seats bolted in place, makes it much more difficult. I've never understood why they do that, & removing bolts and nuts makes things really dicey when it comes to legalities. About half my flights are medevacs, & we really do need a better way. I won't hold my breath waiting on help from Sikorsky, though.
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