In particular, the equipment our paramedics use to transport patients has changed drastically. These changes have reduced paramedic injuries and improved patient safety.
The Ferno C30 was the standard stretcher in use across the provincial ambulance service until the 1990s. While it was relatively light, it needed to be lifted from ground level to be loaded into the ambulance. It was common practice to carry this stretcher up and down stairs with a patient on it. During training, paramedics were taught proper body mechanics for lifting, and they had to carry a 150-pound person down a flight of stairs.
Ferno C30 stretcher
Paramedic and Public Information Officer (PIO),
Brian Twaites remembers using the Ferno C30 stretchers. He explains that to place a patient on the stretcher, they would first lower it to the ground. If stairs were involved, he and his partner would carry the stretcher with the full weight of the patient either up or down. They had to manually lift the stretcher from the ground, which meant squatting fully before lifting both the stretcher and patient. Once that was done, they would wheel the stretcher to the ambulance, where paramedics had to crouch, manually lift, and slide it into the vehicle.
Brian Twaites demonstrates the full squat with the Ferno C30 stretcher
Fun fact: When the C30 stretchers were in use, a Vancouver crew calculated that each paramedic lifted an average of 6000 pounds during a shift. This total included the weight of the stretcher and the process of moving patients on and off them.
In the 1990s, the Ferno 35A was introduced province wide. It was heavier than the C30, so paramedics avoided carrying it up or down more than three stairs. However, it could be loaded into the ambulance from a standing position, which was an improvement.
In the late 1990s, many Ferno 35P and 35X Proflexx were introduced around the province to handle bariatric patients. Although they had a much larger carrying capacity and operated like the 35A, they were very heavy and difficult to maneuver.
In 2014 and 2015, a trial was conducted with fewer than 27 Ferno Powerflexx stretchers. These stretchers had a power lift but still needed to be manually loaded and unloaded from the ambulance. They were heavy and hard to manage, and they didn’t show any noticeable reduction in the number of employee musculoskeletal injuries (MSI).
In 2017, a small number of Stryker stretchers with power loading systems were introduced, and they quickly helped reduce musculoskeletal injuries. As a result, BCEHS accelerated the deployment of these stretchers across the province.
Historically, two of main activities causing injuries for BCEHS paramedics were lifting and lowering manual stretchers, as well as loading and unloading them from ambulances. The heavy, repetitive work contributed to musculoskeletal injuries among paramedics.
As detailed in the
Finding the Fixes for What's Broken 50th anniversary story, back injuries were common in the profession for many years, and BCEHS Senior Provincial Executive Director Mike Michalko suffered two serious back injuries in his career.
“My personal journey has always been about our people, and safety. Looking after our staff as much as we look after our patients. I’ve been involved in a lot of projects related to paramedic safety including the stretcher program – our whole journey to power stretchers and power loaders, which dramatically reduced the rates for musculoskeletal injuries. That was a massive project for me for three years,” Mike says.
From 2017 to 2019, BCEHS outfitted every ground ambulance in the province with new power stretchers, load systems, and lifting equipment to help prevent injuries.
Since being introduced, power stretchers and power loading systems continue to be effective tools in reducing the risk of injury to paramedics.
By the end of 2023, estimates show that the Stryker power stretchers and power loading systems helped prevent 758 lost-time injuries. Since these stretchers and loading systems were fully implemented, injuries caused by raising and lower stretchers have dropped by 98%, with only three incidents in the last five years. Injuries from loading and unloading stretchers into ambulances have decreased by 67%.
The
BCEHS 2022-23 Progress Report outlines the results of BCEHS’ five-year program (2016–2021) to prevent musculoskeletal injuries with new equipment and training. Employee musculoskeletal injuries caused by lifting, transferring patients, and equipment handling have been declining.
In our January 2023 story
Lightening the Load, BCEHS staff talk about how rolling out the program and delivering equipment and training across the province on a tight timeline required a huge team effort.
“This program felt like a significant step in BCEHS taking action and investing so that employee safety and wellness is consistently our first thought, not an afterthought,” says Ryan Ackerman, BCEHS executive director practice, learning and disaster risk reduction and resilience (DR3). “Looking at our work practices and working with expert ergonomists, BCEHS was able to secure world-class equipment that’s really reduced the injury burden.”
Mike Michalko is proud of the seven-year journey to reduce musculoskeletal injuries through prevention. “This program has virtually eliminated a significant injury point for paramedics in their day-to-day work and reduced their cumulative MSI injury and risks throughout their careers,” says Mike. “Injury prevention is one of the key pieces to make sure we’re looking after the people who work at BCEHS.”
“Ultimately, our people at BCEHS are the foundation of our service and the patients we care for,” he continues. “BCEHS as an organization is committed to caring for our people and supporting their health and wellness from hire to retire.”
All ground ambulances have the Stryker power stretchers and power loading systems. BCEHS is currently in the process of upgrading the air ambulance fleet, both rotary and fixed wing, to have Stryker power stretchers and power loading systems. Once these systems are available in all our aircraft, it’s expected that musculoskeletal injuries will continue to decline.
The first two of our new fixed wing fleet in Smithers, January 2025
All 12 of our new fixed wing aircraft will have power loading systems for Stryker power stretchers. The first two of these aircraft came into service in 2024 and the rest will come into service in 2025.
All seven of our new rotary wing aircraft with power loading systems will come into service in 2025, with the first expected in March.
The investments in equipment to help in prevent injuries has paid off for our employee wellness. The next generation of paramedics won’t face the same risk of injuries from lifting and loading stretchers.
