Strafford News

City of Dover issued the following announcement on August 18.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded Dover Fire and Rescue $82,378 through FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. The department will use the grant to purchase a system designed to automatically load and unload its patient stretchers into and out of their ambulances to minimize the risk of back injuries to medical personnel.

Conducting an operations risk analysis in 2020, the department found that paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) loaded or unloaded a stretcher more than 11,000 times during nearly 3,000 patient transports in a year, a situation where personnel can injure themselves while trying to provide life-saving care. Dover Fire and Rescue applied for the competitive FEMA grant to cover the cost of the Stryker Power-LOAD system for each of its three ambulances. It can load and unload a patient up to 700 pounds.

“Back injuries are not uncommon in the fire service due to the myriad of heavy equipment we utilize and the unstable environments our members are frequently called to work in,” Haas said. “Every patient transport is a lifting action with the potential for a back injury. The probability of injury increases when paramedics and EMTs provide care in a fast-paced, life-or-death situation. This auto-loading system will significantly reduce the exposure of our personnel to the potential of a career-ending back injury.”

New Hampshire’s federal congressional delegation, including Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Reps. Chris Pappas and Annie Kuster, announced the New Hampshire grant recipients last week, which included $375,768 awarded to six Granite State municipalities. Shaheen is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, responsible for funding the AFG program.

The AFG provides direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments to enhance safety for firefighters and the public. The grants can be used for training, equipment acquisition, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness activities and modifications of fire/EMS stations.

“We are grateful for the support of Sens. Shaheen and Hassan, and Reps. Pappas and Kuster, for their continued support for the health and safety of Dover’s firefighters,” Paul said.

Original source can be found here.