© Ferno-Washington, Inc. / 234-3451-03 / September 2016
18
6 - USING THE COT
6.1 Before Placing the Cot in Service
●
Personnel who will work with the cot need to read this
manual.
●
Set up the cot, following the instructions in
Setup and
Installation,
pages 9-11.
●
Confirm that the cot operates properly. See
Inspecting the
Cot,
page 27.
●
The vehicle must have a Ferno
®
cot fastener system
installed.
6.2 General Guidelines for Use
●
Medical advice is beyond the parameters of this manual.
●
It is the users’ responsibility to ensure safe practices for
the patient and themselves.
●
A minimum of two trained operators is required.
●
Follow standard emergency patient-handling procedures
when operating the cot.
●
OptraoNrs wNrk oNgtohtr and mainoain cNnorNl Nf oht
cNo ao all oimts.
●
Operators communicate with one another and use
coordinated movements to operate the cot.
●
Lift only the weight you can safely handle. Use
additional help when working with heavy loads (patient
and equipment). For placement of helpers, see
Using
Additional Help,
page 25.
●
Stay with the patient at all times.
●
Always use patient restraints to secure the patient on the
cot.
6.3 Fully Engaging
the Locking Mechanism
False locking is a condition in which the locking mechanism
does not fully engage when a control handle is released. This
can occur after changing cot positions if the locking pin rests
exactly on the tip of a ratchet bar tooth, and can allow the cot to
lower to the next locking position when moved.
To ensure the locking mechanism fully engages after
changing positions, lift the cot until all the wheels are off
the ground. This allows the lock to fully engage if it has not
already done so.
Using the Cot
WARNING
Improper operation can cause injury. Operate the cot
only as described in this manual.
An unattended patient can be injured. Stay with the
patient at all times.
An unrestrained patient can fall off the cot and be injured.
Use restraints to secure the patient on the cot.
Rolling the cot sideways or in a loading position can cause
the cot to tip and injure the patient or operators. Roll the
cot only in a level (rolling) position and with the head-end
or foot-end first.
False locking can cause injury. After changing positions,
lift the cot until all the wheels are off the ground. This
allows the lock to engage if it has not already done so.
Load Capacity
(Safe Working Load in
pounds, kilograms, stone)
500 lb
227 kg
35.7 st
Operation Requires
Two Trained Operators
Read the Users’ Manual