Cot-Safety & Tip over Prevention

1. Cot Safety
& Tip Over Prevention

2. Causes and Factors
 The cot not being lowered to a safe rolling height
per the manufacturer’s recommendation.
 EMT’s not grasping the cot with both hands while in
motion.
 Insufficient number of EMT’s to safely transport
heavier patients and/or additional equipment.
 Cot wheels catching on cracks or gradient changes
in the pavement.

3. Cot Height
 Select lower or mid-range cot elevated positions
when moving patients.
 Select the lowest practical position of cot elevation
when moving a heavy patient.
 Select the lowest practical position of cot elevation
when it is essential and unavoidable that EMT’s
carry equipment on the cot on which they are
moving a patient.
 Transport the patient in the lowest comfortable
position to maneuver the cot.

4. Transporting a Patient
 Use required cot restraint straps to provide both
transverse and longitudinal patient protection.
 Straps are required at patients knees, hips, chest,
and over shoulders (shoulder straps must be
tethered together at cot frame).
 Never leave a patient unattended on the cot. Hold
the cot securely while a patient is on the product.
 Only use the wheel locks during patient transfer or
without a patient on the cot.
 Be careful when using newer model cots.
 These cots roll easier and faster than older
models.

5. Trained Operators
 Use a minimum of two trained operators to operate
the cot while a patient is on the cot.
 Both EMT’s keeping both hands on the cot frame,
handle and straps supplied to assist with moving the
cot at all times when moving the patient.
 Hands should be clear of red safety bar pivots while
loading and unloading the cot or whenever changing
height position of the cot with two or more operators.
 Do not ride on the base of the cot.

6. Tip-over Prevention
 Being alert to pavement and terrain condition
hazards at all times when moving a patient.
 Transporting the cot sideways can cause the cot to
tip, resulting in possible damage to the product
and/or injury to the patient or operator
 Transporting the cot in a lowered position, head to
foot first, minimizes the potential of a cot tip.
 Inform management at the facility where there is an
issue in commonly traveled areas of pavement that
pose an inherent hazard to wheeled cots.

7. Proper lifting techniques
Keep your hands close to your body.
Keep your back straight.
Coordinate your movements with your
partner and lift with your legs.
Avoid twisting.

8. Reporting of Incidents
 U.S. Food and Drug Administration
 “Medical Devices Report”
 www.fda.gov
 DPH/OEMS
 “Serious Incident and Accident Reports”
 www.mass.gov/dph/oems