Published: August 21, 2009 01:22 pm      

EMS gets new equipment thanks to grant

Good news for the residents of Hamilton County and great news for the Hamilton County EMS. Thanks to grant funding, the Hamilton EMS was able to acquire at no expense to the county, four state of the art pieces of equipment to enable them to better serve residents.

Edgar Lumpkin, director of Hamilton EMS, was proud to accept and receive training, along with his staff on the two new Stair-Pro lift chairs which enable medics to safely lower up to 500-pound patients down stairs. The chairs come equipped with traction features which reduce the chance of slippage.

Stan McQuiston, a representative for Stryker, a supplier of emergency equipment, told the Jasper News, “Out of every ten calls a medic responds to the new stretcher will save in excess of 2,000 pounds of lifting for that medic.” Hamilton EMS received two Power-Pro XT Stretchers which McQuiston spoke of. These stretchers are raised and lowered electronically at the touch of a button, significantly reducing back stress and injury for medics.

According McQuiston, the average back injury for EMS personnel costs $53,000, with the loss of time, replacement staff and workers compensation costs combined.

This newly received equipment should greatly reduce additional costs Hamilton County may face as well as greatly improve level of care for Hamilton residents.