There is a potential for an injury to fire department staff with each run when lifting the patient onto the cot, getting the cot in and out of the medic, and when transferring the patient onto the hospital bed.
In 2012, the Violet Township Fire Department responded to 3,846 requests for emergency medical service, with the trend for 2013 expected – year-end numbers were not available at press time – to be at or exceeding this number.
The Violet Township Fire Department has spent a lot of time and resources to prevent these musculoskeletal injuries from happening. Proper body mechanics and lifting techniques are in the forefront of personnel’s minds as a result of training that has been developed and implemented. The department consults with a specialized physical therapist/transitional work developer to stress prevention, provide back-to-work and preventative treatment, and develop training and instruction in the proper techniques.
As a result of a back injury suffered by a staff member in the summer of 2013, a special committee was created to consider any new equipment that may be available to provide lift assistance, thereby reducing musculoskeletal strain on the neck, shoulder, back and knees. The committee visited several vendors for demonstrations and obtained equipment for trials. The entire department looked at the practicality of each piece of equipment as well as ease of use. A clear consensus was reached on the equipment the department wished to acquire.
Chief John Eisel and Physical Therapist/Transitional Work Developer Heather Wendell met with our local Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation safety consultant to explore additional resources and funding for this type of equipment. Ohio BWC offers a safety grant to state-funded employers to help offset the cost of purchasing equipment that may have been beneficial in preventing an industrial injury. The department submitted an application for this grant, and we were notified late in December 2013 that we were awarded $40,000 toward the purchase of this equipment.
The grant will help outfit our medics with a new cot system, the Stryker Power-LOAD and Power Pro-XT©. The cot system significantly reduces musculoskeletal strain on the firefighter’s body as well as any cumulative trauma due to the repetitive nature of his or her job.
The system will also help decrease weight handled by the firefighter and the awkward positions that the firefighter uses when getting the patient onto the cot and when loading the cot in and out of the medic. Safety for the firefighter and for the patient is significantly improved. Having the new cot system in place will help reduce the likelihood of an injury occurring when getting the patient onto the cot or in and out of the medic.
The Fire Department will continue to evaluate any equipment that may help reduce and circumvent any potential injuries to our personnel. Proper lifting techniques and body mechanics will continue to be emphasized. Continued development and implementation of health, safety and personal fitness programs remains our primary weapon in the reduction of injuries while delivering core services to the residents and visitors of our community.
