PATIENT TRANSPORT APPARATUS WITH AREA LIGHTING MODULE FOR ILLUMINATING STAIRS

A patient transport apparatus (100) for transporting a patient along stairs. A seat section (104) is coupled to a support structure (102) supporting a track assembly (154) having a belt. A motor selectively generates torque to drive the belt. An upper area light module (335) is configured to illuminate light directed at floor surfaces in a rearward direction and constrained to a rearward volume to prevent the light from obstructing a view of a user engaging an upper handle assembly (132). A user interface (204) including an activation input control (214) for controlling the motor and an area light input control (334) for controlling the upper area light module (335) is arranged for engagement by the user. A controller (212) is configured to permit operation of the motor based on the activation input control and to operate the upper area light module in a first or second state based on user engagement of the area light input control.