The embodiments described and claimed herein are a restraint system for securing a gurney in a vehicle. In one embodiment, a conventional antler and rail-type gurney restraint system is improved by the addition of a center latch restraint that engages with a latch member secured by a support bracket to the underside of the gurney. In one configuration, the latch member enters into engagement with the center latch restraint through lateral movement of the control end of the gurney. In that respect, the EMT may use the same autonomic movements used with the conventional antler and rail-type system to secure the gurney in the vehicle. Optionally, one or more of the gurney occupant restraint belts are directly connected to the support bracket, whereby occupant loads during an accident will bypass the gurney and occupant head excursions can be reduced.

An ambulance cot loading and unloading system for an emergency vehicle includes a base for mounting in the emergency vehicle and an arm mounted for linear movement along the base, wherein the arm configured to support a cot while the cot is being loaded into or unloaded from the emergency vehicle. The ambulance cot loading and unloading system further includes an indicator mounted relative to the arm and a control system, which is in communication with the indicator and configured to generate a status indication of the cot loading and unloading system at the indicator.

A mortuary tray for use within a first call vehicle for removing the body of a decedent from the place of death is adjustable in length to suit various vehicles and may be readily broken down into component parts for economical shipping. A rear part is adjustably received within a front part, and a ramp is hinged to the front part. These three parts may be fabricated of lightweight sheet-metal. The front part has protruding fasteners which extend within parallel slots in the rear part and secured by nuts. The ramp has three segments defined by two folds: a first segment aligns with and extends over the rear opening of a vehicle, a second segment extends over the rear bumper, and a narrow third part is the first which engages a mortuary cot as it enters the vehicle.

An ambulance cot and cot loading and unloading system for an emergency vehicle comprises a cot having a head end, a base for mounting to a deck of an emergency vehicle, a track mounted for linear movement along said base, and an arm mounted for linear movement along said track from a retracted position to an extended position. The arm is and configured to engage the cot, and wherein when the track is extended along the base and the arm is extended along the track the arm is extended from the base in an extended position and is configured for lifting the cot and providing cantilevered support to the cot while in the extended position.

Cot fastening systems which fix and hold an emergency cot to a crash stable, cot fastener track included in the system and provided within an emergency vehicle and methods of affixing the emergency cot thereto are disclosed. The track has a longitudinal length with first and second ends, open side rails longitudinally extending between the ends, and a channel centrally located between the rails. The side rails align, accommodate and guide a first fixture of the cot towards the first end as the cot is rolled within the vehicle and to retain the first fixture adjacent the first end at least vertically and laterally therein. The channel accommodates therein and retains a second fixture adjacent the second end at least vertically and laterally therein. A securing mechanism releasably prevents removal of the first fixture from the open side rails and removal of the second fixture from the channel.

The embodiments described and claimed herein are a restraint system for securing a gurney in a vehicle. In one embodiment, a conventional antler and rail-type gurney restraint system is improved by the addition of a center latch restraint that engages with a latch member secured by a support bracket to the underside of the gurney. In one configuration, the latch member enters into engagement with the center latch restraint through lateral movement of the control end of the gurney. In that respect, the EMT may use the same autonomic movements used with the conventional antler and rail-type system to secure the gurney in the vehicle. Optionally, one or more of the gurney occupant restraint belts are directly connected to the support bracket, whereby occupant loads during an accident will bypass the gurney and occupant head excursions can be reduced.

Cot fastening systems (2) which fix and hold an emergency cot (14) to a crash stable cot fastener track (12) provided within an emergency vehicle (8). The track (12) has a longitudinal length with front (85) and back ends (80), open side rails (28, 30) longitudinally extending between the ends, and a channel (86, 88) centrally located between the rails. The side rails (28, 30) align, accommodate and guide a forward fixture (4) of the cot towards the front end (85) as the cot (14) is rolled within the vehicle to retain the forward fixture (4) adjacent the front end (85) at least vertically and laterally. The channel (86, 88) accommodates and retains a rearward fixture (6) adjacent the back end (80) at least vertically and laterally. A securing mechanism (70,102) releasably prevents removal of the forward fixture (4) from the open side rails and removal of the rearward fixture (6) from the channel (86, 88).

A device for handling a stretcher is suitable to be installed in a helicopter cockpit for displacing the stretcher between a patient transportation position, in which the stretcher is arranged horizontally and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the helicopter, and a patient loading and unloading position in which the stretcher is at least partially removed from the helicopter cockpit substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis, and vice-versa.

A litter lift system includes a winch and a lifting strap. The winch includes a rotatable spool. The lifting strap has one end coupled to the rotatable spool and is movable due to rotation of the rotatable spool. The lifting strap has a first lifting segment and a second lifting segment positioned away from the end of the lifting strap coupled to the rotatable spool. The first lifting segment and the second lifting segment are each forked to interface with a frame of a litter at first lifting segment and second lifting segment distal ends, wherein a coupling is attached to the first lifting segment. Rotation of the rotatable spool in a first direction raises the first lifting segment and the second lifting segment. Rotation of the rotatable spool in a second direction different from the first direction lowers the first lifting segment and the second lifting segment.

A litter lift system includes a winch system and a lifting strap. The winch system includes a rotatable spool. The lifting strap has a first end, a second end, and an intermediate segment extending away from the lifting strap between the first end and the second end. The first end is coupled to the rotatable spool such that rotation of the spool in a first direction winds the lifting strap about the spool and rotation of the spool in a second direction unwinds the lifting strap from the spool. The second end defines a first lifting segment and the intermediate segment defines a second lifting segment. The first lifting segment and the second lifting segment are each forked to define two separate lifting loops.