Out There Now...

CPR Compression Rotation

The latest recertifications for CPR included recommendations from the American Heart Association to (when possible) incorporate a rotation of rescue personnel performing chest compressions every 2 minutes (approximately every 200 compressions). This is aimed at alleviating rescuer fatigue with continuous chest compressions and avoiding potential injuries to firefighters and paramedics who often perform these life-saving tasks in awkward, static positions due to the nature of the scene. Rotating rescuers will also improve overall quality of care to the patient by minimizing the potential for inadequate compression rates and depth.

Testing Patient Transport Devices

Patient Slide Boards

Researchers from the Ohio State University Integrated Systems Engineering program designed and tested a patient slide board and lift strap to better understand the factors that affect the adoption of ergonomically-designed devices among EMS workers.  

Each ambulance gurney has since been outfitted with the slide boards to improve access to this piece of equipment, so that weight-bearing loads and the potential cumulative effects toward injury may be lowered. 

Power Assisted Gurneys

Feedback provided by EMS workers during the slide board testing led TFD management to investigate and purchase gurneys with battery powered hydraulics. These systems help to reduce strenuous lifting and prevent the associate risk of back injury to EMS personnel.