Today the Province and the City of Winnipeg announced a power lift/power stretcher system trial in city ambulances.
New power stretcher systems will soon take away the need for patients to be manually lifted in and out of ambulances, significantly reducing the risk of injury to those who work in the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.
“We rely on paramedics to provide critical care to people when they need it most and it is a profession that can be very physically challenging,” said Health Minister Theresa Oswald. “We’re pleased to continue with our power stretcher pilot in partnership with the City of Winnipeg, to find better ways to keep paramedics safe and healthy on the job.”
Paramedics experience frequent injuries due to repetitive actions such as lifting, lowering, carrying and bending. The power load stretcher system improves paramedic and patient safety by supporting the stretcher throughout the loading and unloading process.
MGEU President (and former paramedic), Michelle Gawronsky, says the day-in, day-out patient lifting can take a toll on workers' backs – something she knows first-hand about after shattering a vertebrae into 14 pieces and cracking two others as a result of repeated patient lifts.
“It (the shattered vertebrae) started to slowly cut into my spinal cord, so I was losing the use of my right leg. I needed surgery. So yes, I think it’s encouraging to see the city and province taking steps to help mitigate these kinds of risks for our paramedics,” says Gawronsky.
In October 2012, the Province announced a similar pilot project in the Southern Regional Health Authority.