First
responders, by default, accept that injuries, disabilities, and even death are
risks that invariably accompany the profession. Lifting and moving are among
the most important activities in which EMS providers perform daily. The
consequences of a misstep can be devastatingly long-lasting: Accounting for
more than 20 percent of all workplace injuries in the U.S., back injuries pose
a significant problem for firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics.
In 2014,
there were over 21,000 EMS providers treated in hospital EDs, with over
one-third being the result of overexertion of the provider. Half of that number
was from lifting and moving the patient. The risk of injury among EMS providers
is more than three times greater than risks among other private industry
occupations: 349.9/10,000 vs. 122.2/10,000, based on
data compiled by the U.S. Dept. of Labor.
Unfortunately, the EMS profession has dramatically
lagged behind in research on safe lifting and moving practices. This has led to
a deficiency in translating data-driven research into practice in order to
minimize injuries among EMS professionals. As a result, the rates of injury
have remained staggeringly high.
According to
recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, more than 27,000 fire/EMS
workers experienced on-the-job injuries and illnesses. Specifically, more than
21 percent of these injuries were comprised of lower-back injuries. Here’s an
applicable, everyday example of such an injury:
You’re
nearing the end of a long shift, and you’ve been running hard all day. Then,
the call comes in: Respond to a home to assist a patient with an injury to a
lower extremity. Once on-scene, you and your partner find the patient down in a
bathtub, completely immobilized.
Time is
short, so rather than heading back to the ambulance to retrieve a lifting tarp,
you try to lift the patient up onto a spine board. That’s when it happens:
There’s a pop in your back, immediately followed by sharp, stinging pain that
permeates your lower-back region.
These kinds
of incidents are becoming more and more prevalent: Based on data compiled by
the International Association of Fire Fighters, 50 percent of line-of-duty
claims and 50 percent of early retirements result from lower-back injuries. Injuries
like these force departments to incur significantly high costs, which directly
hinder staffing efforts.
The persistent back pain can be extremely difficult for injured fire/EMS professionals to deal with, both on- and off-duty. Lingering lower-back pain invades personal lives, making once-enjoyable activities unbearable. These injuries allow only light-duty assignments, which yield only two-thirds of the normal pay rate. Needless to say, this will result in stressful financial hardships.
Employers
are also affected: Workers’ compensation payments will need to be made, and
open positions will need to be backfilled with overtime shifts. These scenarios
lead to augmented levels of provider fatigue, high costs, elevated numbers of
patient-care errors, and higher risks of injuries to healthy members.
“As EMS
providers, we are supposed to be the ones helping patients, not the ones
becoming patients,” according to theEMSstore Merchandising Specialist and
volunteer firefighter/EMT Amanda Keesey. “Scene awareness and safety is a must.
No matter how small or large the patient is, using the proper lifting technique
will help to prevent short-or long-term back injuries.”
What
specialized equipment can be used to avoid improper-lifting techniques,
lower-back injuries, and keep crews fit-for-duty at all times? The Graham Medical Megamover Transport
Plus is designed
especially for these reasons.
As a leading
provider of quality, single-use medical products, Graham Medical is renowned
for creating solutions that make emergency medical professionals’ jobs easier
through improving efficiency. The cost-effective, compact, flexible Graham
Medical Megamover Transport Plus is the preferred choice of EMS professionals.
It’s ideal for any number of operations, including moving, transferring, or
rescuing patients from inaccessible areas, such as uneven terrain, stairs, and
more.
“When
lifting a patient, we need to assess the scene, first and foremost,” Keesey
said. “Using an incredible resource like the Graham Medical Megamover Transport
Plus is the best way to combat injuries to ourselves and safely transport
patients, all while nullifying the chances of further injuring them.”
With the
Graham Medical Megamover Transport Plus, the chances are minimized for back injuries.
Thanks to its non-woven, latex-free construction and 14 handles, crews can
easily perform ergonomically sound lifting techniques, up to 1000 pounds. Plus,
the Graham Medical Megamover Transport Plus is available with PowerGrip™
handles for improved comfort and durability. Additionally, it can easily be
stored, deployed, and transported.
Crews will surely make it to retirement age with
a body that can move without pain. The Graham Medical Megamover Transport Plus
is available as a single unit or a case of 10 at theEMSstore.com.
