Orland Fire District utilizes new technology to increase emergency victim safety

The Orland Fire Protection District announced Sunday they have received 6 Stryker Xpedition Powered Stair Chairs to more easily and safely rescue victims in emergencies, Fire Chief Michael Schofield said.

Schofield said the new power chair technology, the first in the country, will also reduce instances of injuries to FireFighters/Paramedics and other First Responders who assist in removing people from emergency situations.

“The six Stryker Xpedition Chairs and will be put to immediate use throughout the Fire District and through our six fire stations,” Schofield said.

“Our commitment has never wavered to ensure that our firefighters not only have the best equipment and training to do their jobs, but to ensure they are the best trained and capable to save lives. Our priority always is to save human life, the victims in emergencies and the First Responders who go into those emergencies. We believe this new technology will help us strengthen this commitment.”

Orland Fire Protection District acquires 6 Stryker Xpedition Powered Stair Chairs to more easily and safely rescue victims in emergencies

The Stryker Xpedition Powered Stair Chairs offer an array of benefits, Schofield said including:

Reduced patient tip back while on the stairs, in combination with Stryker’s patient containment system, to help improve patient psychological and physical safety.

Allows caregivers to safely and ergonomically move patients up and down stairs, utilizing a powered track to help decrease the risk of caregiver injury and fatigue.
Integrated head end and foot end lights allows emergency responders to easily see the environment around them and their patients.

OFPD Board President John Brudnak said the addition of the Stryker Xpedition Powered Stair Chairs to the Fire District’s arsenal of emergency response equipment is a reflection of the district’s constant pursuit of the highest level of training, emergency response and saving lives.

“It’s not just luck that the Orland Fire Protection District has the highest Cardiac Arrest Save Rate in the region and possibly the nation, 71 percent, compared to only 10-15 percent elsewhere,” Brudnak said.

“The Fire District is here to save lives and to ensure that we have the absolute best trained and performing firefighters, paramedics and emergency first responders of any Fire District in the country.”

Brudnak and Schofield said the new equipment reflects the District’s efforts to be the most effective in saving lives and responding to emergencies. The district’s performance is reflected in receiving each year the highest possible Insurance Services Office (ISO) Rating. The ISO 1 Rating reflects the performance of fire districts nationally and is a significant factor in reducing insurance premiums for homeowners and businesses in the District.

Schofield thanked Fire Lieutenant Carl Jones for supervising the grant process with the Finance Department for the purchase of the six stair chairs which was partially funded by a Safety Grant of $10,000 from the Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust (ICRMT).