By Vanessa Overholser - Staff Writer
The local ambulance service has received more than $7,000 for new equipment.
“The problem for EMS is the equipment is not designed to move barriatric patients. A barriatric patient is a person weighing 450 pounds and more, ” Morehead-Rowan County EMS Director Danny Blevins said. “Barriatric patients do pose a higher risk for EMS workers’ back and neck injuries while lifting barriatric patients.”
“We want to provide the most safe environment for our medics and our patients,” Blevins said.
Many trips involve routine hospital runs as well as vehicle accidents. There are times where patients are placed on stretchers that are often too small and very uncomfortable. This is a problem that is embarrassing for many people they serve.
Kentucky Association of Counties (KACO) officials heard about Rowan-Morehead EMS’s need. KACO representatives Steve Clary and Michele Finke gave the local EMS $3,778.81 to help pay for the equipment.
“St. Claire gave $3,844.79 toward the barriatric stretcher,” said Blevins. “We are still waiting for additional accessories such as a ramp to assist with lifting.”
“Part of this is making their experience as comfortable and private as possible for our patients,” Blevins said. “This unit will allow us to transport obese patients with as much dignity as we can while protecting EMS personnel from back injury.”
