CPS_obsessed_EMT
Senior Community Member
Recently our ambulance service was part of the rescue on a large multi-vehicle pile-up on interstate. Our rig was assigned 3 "yellow tags"- 2 adults and a 2 yr old. The 2 yr old's carseat had been damaged beyond re-use in the ambulance (and his mom had taken him out of his carseat right away anyway, otherwise normally we keep kids in their seats and immobilize them that way) So anyway, the child was put into a carseat that the ambulance stores on hand for when we transport a child (if their parent is being treated, etc)
Well, when the child was brought into the ER, and we told the ER doc that we had moved the child from his seat to our seat, he took one look at our seat and said "Throw that thing in the garbage and get one without the death bar on it!" (the OHS....lol)
I was so happy he said that. I hated that we carried an OHS seat, but being we hardly ever transport children and this is a rural ambulance squad with extremely limited funds, I knew there was no way I myself would talk them into getting something different.
So anyway, when this was brought up at the squad meeting, I volunteered to bring the OHS into BRU for the Trade-In thing and get a new one. When they asked how much it would be...I told them around $40 (knowing how limited our funds are and this would be a rarely used thing, I wasn't going to tell them $150 or something like that)
Anyway, is it the consensus to go with a Scenera? It has to be fairly cheap, and also not big and bulky because we have limited space on the rig.
But, I'd also like to know if there are any other ideas. This is honestly something I've never thought about.
Most of the EMTs are completely clueless about carseats, and could probably figure out how to strap it in with a seatbelt and buckle the straps...and that's it.
I'm thinking a Scenera is going to be the best bet....but does anyone have any info about like, which seat in an ambulance is the best to install a carseat on? None of the seats are "allowable". They are either side facing bench seats, or a rearfacing captain chair. I'm assuming just strap it into the rearfacing captain (so like, how a FFing install would be, except the entire thing is facing the rear)
and also, am I right to assume to set the harness straps on the tallest setting do you think? (since I'm not going to expect everyone else to know how to adjust the strap height when I'm not there) I think I'd rather have the straps too high on say, a 2 yr old than way too low of straps on a 4 yr old. Usually if it's a baby we are transporting, they have their infant carrier along so we'd be using that for the tiny babies.
Sorry for how clueless I sound....carseat use on an ambulance is kind of new territory for me. I've "installed" infant seats for babies onto the cot itself (when the infant is the actual patient) but until recently I've never come across having to transport a between 1-5 yr old not on the cot.
If there are any other EMTs out there, I'd love to know how you handle this issue on your squad!
Thanks!
Oh, and I'm going to BRU tomorrow with the new seat, I should have posted sooner but I had just assumed to "at least get a 5 pt seat" and hadn't thought more deeply into it until now. (But even after I buy the seat, I'd still like input about this particular issue afterwards)
Well, when the child was brought into the ER, and we told the ER doc that we had moved the child from his seat to our seat, he took one look at our seat and said "Throw that thing in the garbage and get one without the death bar on it!" (the OHS....lol)
I was so happy he said that. I hated that we carried an OHS seat, but being we hardly ever transport children and this is a rural ambulance squad with extremely limited funds, I knew there was no way I myself would talk them into getting something different.
So anyway, when this was brought up at the squad meeting, I volunteered to bring the OHS into BRU for the Trade-In thing and get a new one. When they asked how much it would be...I told them around $40 (knowing how limited our funds are and this would be a rarely used thing, I wasn't going to tell them $150 or something like that)
Anyway, is it the consensus to go with a Scenera? It has to be fairly cheap, and also not big and bulky because we have limited space on the rig.
But, I'd also like to know if there are any other ideas. This is honestly something I've never thought about.
Most of the EMTs are completely clueless about carseats, and could probably figure out how to strap it in with a seatbelt and buckle the straps...and that's it.
I'm thinking a Scenera is going to be the best bet....but does anyone have any info about like, which seat in an ambulance is the best to install a carseat on? None of the seats are "allowable". They are either side facing bench seats, or a rearfacing captain chair. I'm assuming just strap it into the rearfacing captain (so like, how a FFing install would be, except the entire thing is facing the rear)
and also, am I right to assume to set the harness straps on the tallest setting do you think? (since I'm not going to expect everyone else to know how to adjust the strap height when I'm not there) I think I'd rather have the straps too high on say, a 2 yr old than way too low of straps on a 4 yr old. Usually if it's a baby we are transporting, they have their infant carrier along so we'd be using that for the tiny babies.
Sorry for how clueless I sound....carseat use on an ambulance is kind of new territory for me. I've "installed" infant seats for babies onto the cot itself (when the infant is the actual patient) but until recently I've never come across having to transport a between 1-5 yr old not on the cot.
If there are any other EMTs out there, I'd love to know how you handle this issue on your squad!
Thanks!
Oh, and I'm going to BRU tomorrow with the new seat, I should have posted sooner but I had just assumed to "at least get a 5 pt seat" and hadn't thought more deeply into it until now. (But even after I buy the seat, I'd still like input about this particular issue afterwards)