The city commission recently approved an emergency ordinance for the grant, expecting the costs for the equipment to rise next year.
The new equipment will make it easier for medics to move people from their homes into an ambulance, Springfield Fire Chief Nick Heimlich said. It will help medics move the patients safely and reduce the risk of injury.
“It’s been a need in our organization for a long time,” Heimlich said.
The division will receive nine stair chairs, including one with a stair chair power trax system, and nine stair chair restraint systems and head immobilizers. They’ll also receive two power flex cots and charging stations, as well as oxygen brackets, soft nets and bariatric boards with pins and mattresses.
The stair chair uses a friction-driven braking system to allow it to safely move patients down indoor or outdoor stairs without having to maintain complete control of the weight, Heimlich said.
With its current equipment, medics would have to pick up the chair and carry it down stairs, Heimlich said. They currently have eight active units, which will be retired once the new equipment is received.
“These are much more efficient,” Heimlich said.
The cots are motorized and self-lift from the locking position, which will help lift larger people. They will purchase two of the motorized cots and will position them inside the division so that units can be called upon if assistance is need, Heimlich said.
The BWC is constantly looking for solutions to reduce back injuries in the workplace, Heimlich said.
“That’s the primary focus,” Heimlich said. “It’s very helpful for us.”
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