Rocky Ridge Fire District Improves Safety by Updating Entire Fleet First Fire and EMS Department in State of Alabama to Implement Zero-Lift Solution

Birmingham, AL – With the help of an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Rocky Ridge Fire District is the first Fire and EMS Service in the state of Alabama to add iNX® Integrated Transport and Loading Systems™ to their entire fleet of transport units. The iNX was developed by FERNO to eliminate lifting during patient transport, enhancing caregiver and patient safety.  EMS is one of the most injurious occupations. According to research conducted by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, 1 in 4 EMS professionals will suffer a career-ending back injury within the first four years of service. The average worker’s compensation cost for a back injury is between $40,000-$80,000. “Back injuries are always a concern. We’re getting more and more calls with heavier patients. We typically send additional people to bariatric calls to assist loading patients, which tax more fire department resources. The iNX will eliminate lifting for our crew, protecting our backs and saving us money on injuries,” said Michael Bartlett, Assistant Fire Chief of Rocky Ridge Fire District. The iNX allows EMS professionals to navigate over obstacles, such as road barriers, and into an ambulance without lifting. Simple controls allow EMS professionals to safely raise, lower, load and unload patients up to 700-lbs with the push of a button. The system also provides best-in-class stability, increasing overall patien...
Source: JEMS Operations - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Press Releases Operations Source Type: news