Choosing the Right Mortuary Trolley

These are trolleys designed for daily use, to transfer bodies within a healthcare unit. Some models can also carry coffins. They can have other complementary functions, depending on their characteristics.

• Lifting mortuary trolleys: These models are indispensable in cold rooms. Their lifting system makes it easy to place bodies at higher levels of the mortuary chamber, as well as to transfer them from it to a preparation or presentation table.

Hygeco lifting mortuary trolley

• Trolleys for body preparation/presentation: These consist of a simple structure with no lifting mechanism. They are used for the preparation and presentation of the body. In addition to the fixed-bed models, there are stretchers for transporting corpses.

Hygeco body presentation trolley

• Body transport trolleys with cover: These are also known as concealment trolleys, they allow the body to be transported from the room where the death occurred to the morgue room with total discretion, thanks to the cover. Some models can be equipped with a structure on which a canvas cover will rest.

It is important to take certain factors into account, such as the weight and robustness of the trolley, the maximum weight supported, the dimensions, the type of wheels, etc.

• Trolley weight and ease of use

It’s very important that the trolley is easy to maneuver so that you can move it without any problems both in morgues and funeral homes. Normally, a conventional model weighs no more than 20 kg.

• Maximum capacity

This is the maximum weight the trolley can carry. This is an especially important criterion for trolleys used to transport both bodies and coffins. On average, these trolleys have a capacity of up to 200 kg.

• Trolley height

When bodies need to be removed or placed in the morgue or coffins in the hearse, the height of the trolley is extremely important to consider in order to carry out these movements safely and without strain for the workers. Height-adjustable trolleys offer the ideal solution.

• Dimensions

It is essential to choose a model with dimensions that suit the spaces where it will be used.

• Foldable models

Foldable mortuary trolleys can be a good option when you have little space to store them. These models have feet that fold down, making them easy to store when not in use.

• Wheels

The wheels you will need for your trolley depend on the type of flooring. In a hospital environment, floors are generally even so a trolley with conventional wheels is sufficient. However, to carry out transfers outside the premises (with gravel, cobblestones, rain, etc.), trolleys with wheels suitable for outside areas may be necessary. Trolleys with large wheels make it easy to get up onto the sidewalk or over the step at the entrance to a church, but they also take up more space.

• Available accessories

Don’t forget to check that the trolley you plan to buy is compatible with the various accessories you may need (scales, side rails, fixing straps, stretchers, cover, etc.).

Buying one of these trolleys requires an investment of several hundred euros. On average, a conventional model costs around 600 euros.