“It’s all about safety,” Bellefontaine Fire Chief Andy Fissel said.
The new system will allow firefighters to use hydraulics to load the cot into the vehicle, he said, which helps prevent firefighter and patient injuries.
Firefighters have to manually load and unload patients into emergency vehicles now, he said.
“They’re not cheap, but it’s a whole lot cheaper than hurting somebody,” he said.
The new cot will replace one that was damaged when it was overloaded. An overweight patient fell onto the cot, and firefighters couldn’t stop the fall.
The patient was within the weight limit of the cot, Fissel said, but, “we knew we had to replace it.”
Stryker systems can safely hold a patient up to 700 pounds, according to a demonstration video on YouTube.
The old system could hold about 650 pounds, Fissel said. The new cot also has a higher crash rating and can withstand a greater force.
“It doesn’t break free in the event of a crash,” he said.
The system is expected to be installed by the end of February.
A demonstrator model will be purchased, Fissel said, to save the department money.
The cost of a brand new cot system is almost $50,000.
The department is still working to determine the cost of installing the new system into an emergency vehicle, Fissel said. That cost hasn’t yet been covered.
About the Author