In some circumstances, it is necessary to maintain a patient on a stretcher in the prone position during transit to a hospital or to treatment facilities. Inclining the stretcher to load it into an elevator could be fatal or at the very least detrimental to the patient’s health. Many ambulance services use a 2 010 mm long by 610 mm wide mobile patient stretcher. As well as space for the stretcher in the elevator, there should be sufficient additional space for at least two attendants who may also be providing treatment during transit. Common elevator units that can satisfy this requirement include:
- a 1 134 kg elevator car with minimum interior dimensions of 2 032 mm wide and 1 295 mm deep with a right or left hand access door. The minimum access door width is 1 067 mm and it must be on the 2 032 mm side of the car.
- a 1 134 kg elevator car with minimum interior dimensions of 2 032 mm deep and 1 295 mm wide with a minimum 915 mm wide access door located on the 1 295 mm side.