Helping Patients Out of a Tight Spot

In EMS, lifting patients comes with the territory. Unfortunately, EMS providers can’t control which patients fall, or where; we just need to pick them up when we get there. That’s a lot easier with a device like the Binder Lift.

Binder Lift harnesses are compact, lightweight, fully portable lift devices that allow from one to nine individuals to assist in the lifting process. The harness was specifically designed for EMS, firefighter and healthcare personnel who may not have access to a mechanical lift device and yet deserve to have a safer way to lift. The dynamic nature of the design allows the “lifters” to gain a secure grip while being positioned to make a proper lift. Doing this protects them from injury and provides the patient the dignity of being helped without invading personal space.

Mark Giannobile, a firefighter, apparatus operator and EMT with Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue based in Silverdale, WA, is a believer in the Binder Lift. He’s only been using the device for about six months, but it’s already proved its worth.

“We originally had them on our engines and medic units,” he says. “I’m assigned to our ladder truck and we’re often dispatched to BLS calls. We received reports on how helpful these had been for our engine and medic units, so we asked if we could get one for the ladder truck to try out. It’s been great.”

Giannobile says there’s one patient the department receives calls for quite often. “She’s always falling down. She’s had bilateral shoulder surgeries; her shoulders are basically shot. We brought the Binder Lift in and lifted her with it and she was like, ‘Man, this is so great!’ We used to have to lift her with a device that went under her arms and put a lot of strain on her shoulders. She had to brace herself because it was so uncomfortable. Now she’s as happy as can be.

“Plus, on a ladder truck our compartments are just crammed full of equipment and this fits in easily. It’s definitely been worth it to have it available to us.”

Visit www.binderlift.com.