New advanced stretchers in Bonnyville ambulances installed

These new stretchers look to reduce the heavy lifting. 

Ambulances in the Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority fleet are now equipped with new top of the line stretchers.

“They are the Cadillac of stretchers,” said Ken Hesson, BRFA Division Chief of Medical Operations. 

AHS and the Alberta Government brought in this program for fully-funding stretcher upgrades for contracted and non-contracted ambulance services across the province in January 2022.

Just a few weeks old after installation in Bonnyville, these stretchers require little lifting, operate on a track system within the ambulance units, and do most of the things other stretchers do — but with just a touch of a button.

“The obvious feature is lifting the patient up and down. When we’re going and lifting a patient off the ground, we can let the stretcher down to the ground, get as much help lifting the patient onto the stretcher, and up to a 700 pound patient, we push a button, and up comes the patient,” said Hesson.

“Practitioners aren’t lifting anymore, so this is going to drastically reduce the insistences of back injuries, and people being away from work because of those injuries.”

All battery powered and charged when sitting on the track within the ambulance unit, these buttons manipulate the stretcher up and down.

These stretchers will soon be the standard across the province.

Demonstration with Ken Hesson