PHILIPSBURG–St. Maarten Ambulance Department staff members are now better equipped to carry out their duties, thanks to the acquisition of two new fully-equipped ambulances furnished with Power Pro Hydraulic Stretchers and Loading System.
Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA Emil Lee commissioned the ambulances last week.
“The Ministry of VSA continues to make investments to improve the quality of care delivered to the people of St. Maarten,” according to a press release issued on Tuesday. “The upgrade in the ambulance fleet not only better serves the community, but also provides the staff with more-modern equipment to aid them in carrying out their duties while providing a more comfortable accommodation for patients.”
Ambulance personnel over the years have had several concerns related to strained lower back problems as a direct result of lifting patients on stretchers. The Power-Pro Hydraulic Stretcher, which can be lowered to 14 inches, virtually eliminates this risk by letting the system do all the heavy lifting hydraulically, Lee said.
In dealing with patients requiring stretcher assistance, ambulance personnel have to lower the stretcher, bend over, lift, carry, twist and load the patient on to the stretcher. This action often takes place in tightly-confined spaces where personnel are sometimes unable to employ proper lifting techniques, the release said. They then have to lift a patient-loaded stretcher and reverse the sequence back to the ambulance.
On arrival at the Emergency Room, ambulance personnel have to remove the patient-loaded stretcher from the ambulance and transfer the patient to a hospital stretcher. This action can be repeated several times throughout the work shift and eventually takes its toll on the body.
Ambulance Department Head Cylred Richardson said his team deserves the best in innovative technological advancements in Emergency Medical Services in the delivery of quality and professional ambulance care.
Ambulance Department management “is very pleased with this milestone achievement,” the release said.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/67018-ambulance-dept-gets-two-fully-equipped-ambulances
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