The Blanco County Emergency Services District No. 2 has undertaken a risk reduction project to keep the emergency personnel healthy and reduce the chances of job-related injury. Patient handling in stairways and other tight spaces may be some of the most dangerous patient-care situations that emergency responders face.
These situations come with a real potential for back injury. Strain on the back from lifting and lowering patients down stairs can add up over time. Reviewing loss/injury records reveals that many times injuries or episodes of pain are the result of bringing overweight or obese patients up or down stairs and repeatedly moving patients, even those who are not overweight, over stairs. With 1 in 4 EMS workers suffering a career-ending back injury within the first four years of employment in the US alone, we are seeking options that help reduce this risk. The old adage goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and the ounce in this case is a stair chair. The implementation of the Stryker Stair-PRO stair chair could reduce the risk of injury to medics, firefighters and patients during stairway transport.
Through a generous GVTC grant, we received funds to purchase one stair chair ($3,643.95 value as of 1/27/20) but need one for each ambulance. Therefore, we are seeking funding for two (2) additional stair chairs ($7,287.90) so that we can put the power to help reduce the risk back in our hands! If you are aware of any funding sources for this project, please contact the Blanco Co Fire & EMS Auxiliary by email at blancofireems@gmail.com. Thank you!
