COT FASTENING SYSTEM HAVING A CRASH STABLE COT FASTENER TRACK AND METHOD OF AFFIXING AN EMERGENCY COT THERETO

Provided is a cot fastening system which fixes and holds an emergency cot to the floor of a transport vehicle. The emergency cot has wheels and a rearward fixture mounted thereon. The cot fastening system comprises a fastener device for mounting to the floor of the transport. The fastener device has a longitudinal length with first and second ends that define a loading direction therebetween. The first end is wider than the second end. The cot fastening system also comprises a pair of side tracks which are spaced apart with respect to each other and which support and releasably retain the wheels. Finally, the cot fastening system comprises a channel that extends along the longitudinal length in the loading direction such that it is centrally arranged between the side tracks. In this way, the channel releasably secures the rearward fixture via activation of a blocking or catch member which is operable between locked and unlocked conditions.