Your patient is conscious and stable. You need to get them down 4 flights of stairs. Which device would be most appropriate to use?

• A. Stair chair
• B. Stretcher
• C. Ambulance cot
• D. Gurney

Answer: (A)

When moving a conscious, stable patient down multiple flights of stairs, you want a device that lets you descend safely and efficiently without heavy lifting. A stair chair is designed for this scenario: it’s narrow enough to maneuver on stairs, keeps the patient seated and secured, and usually has wheels and a controlled descent mechanism so responders can guide the patient down step by step. This minimizes strain on the team and reduces the risk of losing control or injuring the patient during the descent.

The other options are not ideal for stairs. A stretcher, ambulance cot, or gurney is broad, heavy, and meant for flat-surface transport; carrying one down stairs requires more people and more physical effort, increasing risk to both patient and responders. The stair chair is specifically intended for stair descents with a conscious patient, making it the best choice in this situation.