The EN 1865 series sets the requirements for the equipment used to move a patient in a road ambulance. It is one of the rarer cases where a standard protects the patient and the crew at the same time.
Parts of the series
- 1865-1
- General requirements for stretchers and equipment
- 1865-2
- Power-assisted stretcher
- 1865-3
- Heavy-duty stretcher
- 1865-4
- Foldable patient transfer chair
- 1865-5
- Stretcher support in the vehicle
Why this is also crew safety
Back injury is among the most common occupational injuries in ambulance crews. A power-assisted stretcher (1865-2) that lifts and lowers the patient itself sharply reduces that risk. In a collision, a properly secured stretcher is a crew safety factor too — an unsecured 100 kg load in the saloon is lethal.
The equipment must be compatible with the vehicle's locking system, withstand dynamic testing, and allow the patient to be released quickly, in one movement, for emergency evacuation.