Community

Rutherford County Emergency Medical Service (RCEMS) is pleased to announce that they are the recipients of a Facebook Community Action Grant. Facebook awarded RCEMS $6,000 on November 28, 2013 at the Forest City Christmas Lighting Event.

RCEMS will use the $6,000 to purchase stair chairs for their ambulances. Rutherford County will also match the grant to ensure all ambulances are equipped with the stair chair.

Stair chairs have tank-like treads for descending stairs. A motor controls the treads and direct drive transmission can be used as a break for steady and controlled descent on stairs. A medic can stop on the stairs, and the break will hold the chair in place.

County Manager Carl Classen stated, “Rutherford EMS constantly looks for ways to improve emergency medical service in our large and rural county. There is a continuous community need to provide quicker emergency and convalescent services within the county and to out of county hospitals.”

This grant will benefit the community by allowing EMS to move patients quicker by utilizing the Stair Chair. This technology changes the standard stretcher based transport and gives medics options for moving patients quickly and safely.

Terry Baynard, EMS Operations Manager stated, “One of the key organizational goals for EMS is patient and employee safety. The ability to access patients in their home or business can be difficult when stairs or tight spaces are involved, which is often the case. These scenarios present a safety hazard for both the patient and the medics because in an emergency time is of the essence.”

This grant will allow for faster response times by preparing patients for transport quicker and more safely. Moving patients on stairways is often times the most dangerous situation medics face due to risk of dropping the patient or injuring the medic. The Stair Chair allows medics to reach patients in cramped spaces and to glide down stairs without lifting, it can also can handle patients over 400 pounds. Adjustable straps and quick release buckles ensures comfort and safety of the patient. Stair Chairs also fold down to fit inside current ambulance compartments for storage.

Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services has been a county run department since 1973. There are EMS stations in Spindale, Hickory Nut Gorge, Bostic, and the Cliffside Fire Department. EMS runs approximately two hundred calls per week. There are 40 full time medics and approximately 25 part time medics. All ambulances operated by Rutherford County EMS are staffed with one or two EMT-Paramedics. EMT-Paramedic level is the highest level of pre-hospital care available. EMS also provides convalescent transports for non-emergency appointments, inter-facility transports and hospital discharges. For more information on Rutherford County EMS, please visit www.facebook.com/rcems.