Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: Preventive Maintenance, Inspection, and Care

If you’re searching for a medical stretcher maintenance checklist, you’re probably trying to avoid two expensive problems: unexpected failures and infection-control risk.
We’ve worked with B2B buyers who need stretchers that stay reliable across real-world use—rough loading, tight corridors, and frequent cleaning.
In this guide, you’ll get a practical preventive maintenance routine, a frequency-based schedule, and a copy-ready inspection and care checklist you can hand to your team.
Let’s dive right in.

---

Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: Why preventive maintenance matters

A preventive maintenance routine is cheaper than emergency repairs—and it reduces avoidable safety incidents.
In the real world, stretchers take hits: vibration, drops, fluids, disinfectants, and constant rolling over thresholds.

Here’s what PM protects you from:

• Sudden wheel/caster failure during transport
• Loose fasteners and unstable frames
• Locking/height mechanism issues
• Strap/rail wear that compromises patient safety
• Cross-contamination from inadequate cleaning and disinfection

Also, if your stretcher contacts blood or other potentially infectious materials, OSHA requires that equipment and surfaces be cleaned and decontaminated after contact.

---

Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: Preventive maintenance schedule

Use this schedule as your baseline, then match it to your call volume and local protocols.
(And always follow your own device IFU + facility policy.)

Frequency	Medical stretcher maintenance checklist focus	Typical tasks
Every use / shift	Safety + function	Visual check, locks, straps, wheels, cleanliness
Weekly	Wear + fasteners	Tighten hardware, inspect joints, check casters
Monthly	Deeper function	Load/unload function, brakes, lubrication points
Quarterly	PM inspection	Frame integrity, corrosion, accessory mounts
Annually	Full PM + parts plan	Replace wear parts, document service records

Tip: Many public-sector checklists emphasize checking frame integrity (welds/bends), moving parts, locks, and restraint systems.

---

Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: Pre-use inspection

If you only do one thing, do this 2-minute pre-use inspection—because it prevents “surprise failures” on the call.

Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: 10-point quick check

1. Frame: no cracks, bends, or sharp edges
2. Fasteners: no missing screws/bolts/pins
3. Moving parts: smooth movement, no grinding
4. Locks: lock solidly in each position
5. Wheels/casters: roll smoothly, tread OK
6. Brakes/wheel locks: engage and hold
7. Handles/side rails: secure and stable
8. Straps/restraints: no fraying, buckles work
9. Mattress/pad: intact cover, no tears
10. Cleanliness: no visible soil or residue

These checks align closely with real-world EMS inspection sheets (fasteners, moving parts, lock positions, wheels, wheel locks, restraints).

---

Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: Cleaning and disinfection

Cleaning is not optional “after time permits”—it’s part of safe operations.
CDC recommends removing visible organic residue first (cleaning), then performing disinfection with an appropriate product and process.

Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: Routine cleaning workflow (numbered)

1. PPE on (gloves/eye protection as needed)
2. Remove visible soil with detergent + water
3. Rinse/wipe as required by your protocol
4. Apply facility-approved disinfectant (contact time matters)
5. Air dry / wipe dry per product label
6. Reassemble accessories, do a quick function check
7. Record completion (who/when)

Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: Blood/body fluid spill procedure

When blood or body fluids are present, handle it like a controlled spill—contain, clean, then disinfect.
CDC’s environmental cleaning procedures include wearing PPE, confining and wiping up the spill, cleaning thoroughly, then disinfecting with an intermediate-level disinfectant.
OSHA also expects decontamination after contact with blood/OPIM.

Pro tip for buyers: choose stretcher surfaces and mattresses that tolerate your disinfectants, or you’ll “buy twice” when covers crack and seams fail.

---

Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: Lubrication and wear parts

Most stretcher downtime comes from wear parts—especially wheels/casters, brakes, and high-cycle joints.

What to inspect closely

• Casters: flat spots, wobble, seized bearings
• Brakes: inconsistent holding, delayed engagement
• Hinges/joints: squeaks, binding, play
• Springs/locking pins: weak return, partial engagement
• Straps/buckles: fraying, cracking, slipping

Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: Replacement triggers

1. Wheel wobble or uneven rolling
2. Brake doesn’t hold on slight incline
3. Locks don’t “click” positively every time
4. Visible corrosion at joints/fasteners
5. Strap webbing frays or buckles deform

Keep a small spares kit for high-wear items (casters, straps, pins), especially if you run high call volumes.

---

Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: Documentation and audit-ready records

If it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen—especially for hospitals, tenders, and fleet-style EMS operations.

What to record:

• Inspection date/time + inspector
• Issues found + corrective action
• Parts replaced (part name/qty)
• Cleaning/disinfection log
• Annual PM summary

This “logbook mindset” shows up repeatedly in formal PM programs and public checklists.

---

Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: Which stretchers are easier to maintain?

Not all stretchers are equal when it comes to maintenance time and cleaning workload.
For many B2B buyers, “easy to maintain” means:

• Smooth, wipeable surfaces
• Simple hardware access
• Standardized wear parts
• Clear accessory compatibility
• Predictable spare parts supply

If you’re sourcing rescue and transport models for multiple scenarios, start with a category that covers different mission needs and keeps your procurement simple: Various Rescue Stretcher.

---

Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: Conclusion + B2B CTA

A consistent medical stretcher maintenance checklist reduces failures, improves safety, and makes your operation audit-ready.
If you’re buying stretchers in volume (EMS, hospitals, distributors, government projects), the best next step is to standardize your inspection checklist and choose models designed for frequent use and frequent cleaning.

We’re a factory-direct manufacturer focused on B2B rescue and patient transport equipment—reliable build, OEM/ODM options, and responsive support.

• Learn who we are: About Us
• Ready to source or compare models? Contact Us to get a quote, request a catalog, or ask for a sample.
• Visit our homepage once: Jiekang Rescue

---

Medical Stretcher Maintenance Checklist: FAQ

How often should a stretcher be inspected?

At minimum: a quick check every shift/every use, plus a scheduled PM program (monthly/quarterly/annual) depending on usage and policy.

What’s the most important part of a stretcher inspection?

Locks, wheels/casters, and restraints—because failure in any of these can immediately affect transport safety.

How do you disinfect a stretcher after blood exposure?

Contain the spill, wipe up, clean thoroughly, then disinfect with an appropriate product and follow label contact time—OSHA/CDC both emphasize decontamination after contact with blood/OPIM.

Do we need to keep maintenance records?

Yes—documentation supports safety, accountability, and procurement/audit requirements in many healthcare and public-service settings.