Can patients walk to the stretcher or ambulance?

• A. No, patients should not walk and should be moved using safe lifts and devices; exceptions must be documented in the PCR
• B. Yes, if they insist on walking
• C. Only with a caregiver present
• D. Yes, but only to the ambulance entrance

Answer: (A)

Moving a patient to the stretcher or into the ambulance should prioritize safety for both the patient and EMS crew. The best approach is to avoid letting a patient walk and instead use safe lifts and transfer devices (like a stair chair, scoop stretcher, or transfer board) to complete the transfer. This minimizes the risk of further injury, falls, or instability, especially if there could be spinal or musculoskeletal concerns, and it reduces the physical strain on responders.

If an exception is ever considered, it must be clearly documented in the patient care report (PCR) with the rationale. This keeps a proper record of why a nonstandard transfer occurred and supports safety and accountability.

The other options don’t fit because relying on the patient’s insistence to walk ignores potential injuries and instability; requiring a caregiver’s presence doesn’t address the safety need, and allowing the patient to walk only to the ambulance entrance still leaves the patient vulnerable to a fall or deterioration before or during loading.