Last December, after the visit of a KARTSANA worker to the Open Arms ship in the port of Barcelona, we were able to know the situation of the medical facilities that the ship had to treat people rescued in international waters.
The ship had an old KARTSANA Fuego model ambulance stretcher for patient care. The stretcher was installed in the hospital area of the ship, with a mechanism designed by them, but which limited its optimal functioning.
Open Arms tells us that this stretcher came from an ambulance. They installed it on the ship, which represented a step forward, as they did not even have a stretcher in the medical area.
This fact made us think about how KARTSANA could collaborate with this ONG to improve the medical assistance tasks. We immediately contacted them.
The needs for maritime rescue
We got an immediate response from the Open Arms staff. Juanfe Jiménez, medical coordinator of the ship, tells us about the new flagship Open Arms Uno, which is equipped with a 26-bed hospital and a medical area with medical equipment and the possibility of incorporating two stretchers.
Together with Juanfe, we managed to understand the needs they have during a rescue, and we set out to donate a TGM-241S stretcher with its R-419L rail, which has a spinal board.
The challenge
The installation of the rail on the ship was a challenge. This equipment is intended to be installed in ambulances, so a way was developed to ensure a structure at the most convenient height to facilitate the work of the paramedic during patient care.
The result
The stretcher-rail unit is perfectly installed! KARTSANA’s production department adapted the rail support structure to be installed on the floor.
The visit to the Open Arms Uno
Finally, the ship Open Arms Uno arrives in Barcelona. Gently, Juanfe gives us a tour of the ship, where we not only see our stretcher, but also get to know how the ship works. Gently, he tells us about the ship’s equipment and the assistance area to get to know the maritime rescue work better.
The assistance area is divided into 3 areas, with the aim of providing the ship with any type of medical assistance, even advanced.
The emergency area is equipped with 2 stretchers, installed at the optimum height and with a location that allows access to both sides to be able to work. Juanfe tells us that the ambulance stretcher is perfect for the boat, as it is very versatile, allows trendelembug, has different positions, as well as an IV pole, and can assist the patient even when moving.
He also tells us that, as he comes from the ambulance world, all the equipment of a mobile unit is adaptable to this type of vessel, as they are solutions for small spaces that allow the work to be carried out.
The equipment that the boat is equipped with in terms of consumables, medication and electro-medicine, is basically the equipment of a mobile unit or a small hospital ICU, with the aim of being able to provide care. In very serious cases, medical evacuation by helicopter or other means can be organised.
In the hospital, there are 26 beds in the form of bunk beds, they don’t normally have 26 patients, but vulnerable people, pregnant women or women with children can be accommodated in this area to make them more comfortable and safer.
You can watch a TV3 report on Open Arms Uno.
We feel fortunate and proud to be able to collaborate with this ONG and contribute our experience in medical transport equipment:
