The BEAR from BEAR-iatrics

It is no secret that our country is getting larger and that more and more of our population is becoming overweight, obese, and morbidly obese.  The issues that come with being a significantly larger size aren't just limited to the overweight person, their weight can also greatly affect the ability of the first responder who needs to get them to the hospital.

Many ambulance companies have begun to add bariatric ambulances to their fleets.  These ambulances are specially designed to carry wider stretchers that more adequately support the size and weight of obese and morbidly obese patients.  Unfortunately, these specialty ambulances come with two major obstacles.  There are substantial costs involved in the purchase of or transformation to a bariatric ambulance.  Finding out after arrival that a bariatric ambulance is required can drastically increase the amount of time that it would take to get a patient to the hospital.

BEAR-iatrics Inc has a cost-effective solution for this growing problem....The BEAR Unit.  BEAR is short for Bariatric Equalizing Abdominal Restraint.  This simple device allows you to turn virtually any ambulance stretcher into one that is safe to transport obese persons with.  The BEAR is attached directly to the stretcher, and it is then secured around the obese patient.  It works by stabilizing the abdominal mass, which makes the patient feel more secure, decreases the likelihood of them being pinched by the stretcher, and allows for ease of transport.

To learn more about the BEAR unit, check out the following video:



There is also a smaller AirBEAR available for when larger patients need to be transported by air flights.

Emergency Vehicle Kit

You never know when you are going to be in or come upon an emergency situation.  For that reason it is important that you have a first aid/survival kit in your car and ready to go at all time...because you never know when you're going to need it.

The big question is often, what do I put in it?  Or, what should I have in my car?

• Seatbelt Cutter / Window Punch - These are sold separately and as a single unit.  Considering there is a great possibility of needing both for the same emergency, get the single unit!  Unlike the rest of your emergency kit, this item should not be kept in your trunk.  This item should be kept in the center console of your vehicle...where you can easily access it if you need to cut your own seatbelt to get out of your vehicle.

• Charged Cell-Phone - Generally, this item is kept on your person, not in your emergency bag.  However, it is important to make sure that it is well-charged, if not fully-charged, when you get in the car.  Battery life in your cell phone could mean the life or death difference of contacting 911 in an emergency.

• First Aid Kit - Your first aid kit should contain band-aids, gauze pads, adhesive tape, and antibacterial spray/ointment.  If you would stop to help a vehicle on the side of the road, you might also want to include a few pairs of latex gloves and a CPR mask so that you can safely provide assistance to others.

• Fire Extinguisher - The chance of using an extinguisher on your own vehicle is probably a little on the slim side.  But, it could happen.  Or you might need it for another person's vehicle.  Any extinguisher should be rated for Class B or Class C fires.  

• Flashlight - You should have a flashlight and extra batteries in your kit.  To ensure that your flashlight will work in various situations, it should be waterproof.

• Reflectors - To keep yourself safe while changing a tire or to keep others from crashing into an accident, you should set up triangle reflectors.  Safety officers recommend placing 3 triangles about 35-50 feet apart so that motorists have warning they are approaching an emergency prior to being on top of it...giving them time to slow down.

• Blanket - Although many people might only think to put a blanket in their personal winter emergency vehicle kit in case they got stuck on the side of the road, it can be useful during summer months as well.

These are must haves for any first responder to have in their personal vehicle in case they come upon an accident.  If you are looking to pack your personal emergency kit, you should also include a non-perishable food item (like protein bars), water, jumper cables, tire sealant, and a tire gauge.

Binder E-Z Lift

It is no secret that our country is getting larger and that more and more of our population is becoming overweight, obese, and morbidly obese.  The issues that come with being a significantly larger size aren't just limited to the overweight person, their weight can also greatly affect a first responder who needs to come to their emergency aid.

When dealing with and handling obese persons, there is a great risk of lifting injury to the first responder.  To help combat this problem, there is the Binder E-Z Lift.  The Binder E-Z Lift is a non-mechanical apparatus designed to assist patients with non-traumatic injuries.

What makes the Binder E-Z Lift a wise investment for every department?

• Reduces first responder lifting injuries
• Reduces patient injuries, as there is no need to put pressure on arms or shoulders
• Allows for non-invasive "team" lifting, handles allow up to six lifters 
• Eliminates the need for invasive body-to-body contact required to lift a larger person
• Compact, portable and only three pounds
• Easy to attach
• Comes in two sizes (expandable from 34" to 82" chest)
• Polypropylene webbing is exceptionally sturdy and will not stretch
• Nylon fabric rated to support over 500 pounds

To learn more about this product, check out the following video

Binder EZ Lift Commercial from Megan Westvig on Vimeo.

Looking For Guest Bloggers...

Bob Johnson's Toughbook Stuff is currently looking for guest bloggers for our blog.  Guest bloggers share their thoughts and experience from an "expert" perspective on various topics related to first responders.  If you are a first responder or a business geared towards first responder agencies, we want to hear from you!


FAQ's
Requirements:

• Experience in or knowledge of first responder duties and the technology/tools they use
• Ability to submit original posts that require minimal editing once a month (more if you wish)

What can I blog about?

• New technology or software
• Police/fire/ems training opportunities
• New first responder tools
• Personal first responder experiences/advice
• Virtually anything related to first responders

What does it pay?

• We do not pay guest bloggers financially.  We pay you in exposure!  Your blog posts will be seen by upwards of 3,000 viewers per month on our blog that is highly ranked by Google.

Can I link to my business or website?

• All blogs by guest bloggers include a short biography about the author of the article.  That short biography can contain your headshot, personal blog/business page, experience/expertise, and social media links.

How do I get started?

• Send an email to Sales_Dept@BobJohnson.com
• Include an article for the blog or a previous article you have written
• We'll get back to you within 72 hours