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New cot lightens the load

Manawa upgrades its ambulance

By Holly Neumann


The Manawa Rural Ambulance Service recently purchased a new Ferno INXS stretcher for the department.

“This cot compared to our older cots is great improvement,” said Service Director Andy Werth. “It can lift 700 pounds and makes loading into the ambulance easier.”

According to Werth, it is designed to handle larger bodies and even has expansion wings.

“This helps us load patients safely in the ambulance without causing strain on the EMT,” he said. “Back injuries are the No. 1 injury for EMTs and it can be career ending. Any device that can take lifting away can help avoid injury.”

The total cost comes to $40,455 for the cot and new fastener installed.

“The service has had some years when money budgeted wasn’t spent and was put in towards a replacement for one of the ambulances,” said Werth. “The cot was going to be purchased with a rig.”

Many on the department supported getting the stretcher sooner, since money was available.

Werth agreed.

“Lessening the lifting the EMT does was felt very important,” he said. “Losing an EMT to injury has many cost to the community. The highest cost is not having an additional member to respond to the needs of the community. It also includes a financial impact to the EMT as the majority of the members are volunteers, so it can affect their full-time employment as well.”

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