->     Does anyone, in any company or service use the new Rugged stretcher
-> made by Stryker?  The big heavy yellow and black thing?  Our department
-> had numerous crews try them out and evaluate them, and everyone
-> unanimously gave them the "thumbs down" for various reasons.   So being
-> in touch with the people who have to use them, as usual, the department
-> went ahead and bought them anyway.
->     Does anyone like working with them?  I've been working with the old
-> Ferno aluminum stretchers for years, and my back has never ached like it
-> does now.
->     Yet another "advancement" for EMS workers everywhere!  lucky us!
-> --- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 
I have known several companies who tried them out... Most of the crews
hated them. I even had to help a crew load a pt. into the truck on a
Stryker because they couldn't do it...
It has some neat features that would be great! Like the IV pole, and the
large rack underneath the head for the EKG, etc. But, they had to go and
change the undercarriage and screw it up.
But, like your company, they ended up buying them also. I think it's the
same reason alot of companies go to 800 truncked systems when they don't
need it: great salesmanship by the selling company! 
They probably convinced the companies that the Stryker is the BEST and
reminded them that their current stretchers would probably need to be
replaced in 5 years, and when you compare the cost, it's only a few
dollars more per stretcher! And so on... Sorry to hear your company went
against the crews better judgement, but so goes EMS everywhere!
CNN
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/Wildcat5! v2.0G5
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