A Pulaski County EMS ambulance will be getting a new powered stretcher.
EMS Director Bryan Corn told the Pulaski County Commissioners on Monday that the apparatus will be installed in the ambulance that was just repaired after a Christmas accident. He said a claim was made for the replacement and received a couple of quotes.
“Instead of it being a manual cot it’s actually a powered cot,” explained Corn. “With a push of a button, that cot will raise and lower which is good on many aspects. Hopefully, if you guys are okay with that, that’ll cut down on back injuries which are killer EMS workman’s comp claims. That’s actually a 50 percent discount they give us because our truck was in an accident.”
Along with the cost of a stretcher, Corn said a floor piece will need to be installed in the ambulance that will recharge the battery for the cot while it’s plugged in and while the ambulance is running.
Corn said a company out of Kentucky could do the installation on site at the Pulaski County EMS base or they could save about $200 and drive the ambulance up to a company in Middlebury where they could install everything in about two hours and drive it back to the county.
The commissioners unanimously voted to have Crossroads Ambulance Sales and Service, LLC in Middlebury do the work. Corn said the entire cost will be covered by the insurance check. The recommended quote from Stryker Cots is $13,618 with the installation to cost $980.
