Roll-in cots having lift assist mechanisms and lift assist mechanisms are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a lift assist mechanism includes a force application member having an actuation element, an actuation mechanism comprising a first grasp handle and a second grasp handle, and a force transmission assembly. The force transmission assembly includes a first keyway plate that is coupled to the first grasp handle, a second keyway plate that is coupled to the second grasp handle, and an actuation pin that extends through both the first keyway plate and the second keyway plate. The first keyway plate and the second keyway plate are both repositionable between a relaxed position and an actuation position, and the first grasp handle and the second grasp handle are coupled to the force transmission assembly.
