stretchers with the payload of an F-150

[genlock]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Columbus fire department is considering buying stretchers to carry morbidly obese people who weigh up to 1,000 pounds.

The city’s fire division already has 18 stretchers that hold patients who weigh up to 650 pounds, but paramedics have to carry people who weigh more than that about twice a month.

Medics currently use a tarp to transport people who weigh more than 650 pounds.

The bigger stretchers include a hydraulic system to move up and down and cost about $10,000 each. That’s double the cost of their 650-pound capacity counterparts. The larger models also require that ambulances be retrofitted to accommodate them, which costs $6,000.

[Scott Reppert]

Well,there's 21 Columbus-area McDonald's so I guess that means that they will need around three of these big bad-boy stretchers...

[genlock]

They could use a couple of them here in Wayne county.
I assume they have the little holes for the fork lift to fit into.

[CoolBreeze]

Obese people use twice as much energy overall: They require more air conditioning at home and work... cost more for gasoline to haul that extra weight around and to keep it cool in the car.... use more fabric to cover their bodies which uses more energy to make.... eats twice as much (often) which again costs more in energy (transportation, refrigeration, chemicals etc)... costs more medically, both in treatment, transportation, (injuries to health workers also: we have had many take disability here due to back injuries hauling the obese) and finally.. more to bury due to the over sized coffins needed.

[Bob Campbell]

But I believe all of those things are outweighed by their contributions to the "People of Walmart" photos.

[cgarison]

The bigger stretchers include a hydraulic system to move up and down and cost about $10,000 each. That’s double the cost of their 650-pound capacity counterparts.

They would have to get the F550 below with the Ambulance package to haul that large of crew to handle a patient of that magnitude plus the weight of the stretcher and patient.

[jag]

and finally.. more to bury due to the over sized coffins needed.

But consider that they return that much more of themselves to Mother Earth! Or, look at it this way--more people can be kept warm at their cremation! More ashes, more dust, more worm food. Win-win!