As firefighters, EMTs and other first responders you are on the front line every day, interacting with patients in a fast-paced setting. Sometimes, you may feel limited by the equipment you use to stabilize and transport victims in the field. However, do you know where to go or who to talk to about making changes, upgrades and improvements to the equipment you’re currently using? 

We are living in uncertain times with problems and perils on all sides. This is why Graham Medical has decided to make available, to our current and potential distributors, a package for our MegaMover^® Portable Transport Units in the form of:

• Pricing Information
• Product Order SKU, Descriptions and Quantities
• Product Brochure, Resources and Education
• Full Product Catalog with Additional EMS Products (Electronic)
• Marketing Information 
• Contact Information for your Graham Representative

These items have been collected into a MegaMover^® Portable Transport Unit Distributor Package and can be yours to assist you in your selling process simply by completing the attached form.

It seems that even within our own national borders we are truly living in perilous times. From the effects of natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, fires and earthquakes, to domestic violence,  mass shootings, a global pandemic, civil unrest and rioting, it would seem that danger is all around us in differing forms. Thankfully, there are people like you and your staff who are dedicated, trained and equipped to intervene and protect the rest of us from these perils - the police, firefighters and emergency medical service personnel. 

We recognize that the dedication and training are already in place so we at Graham Medical would like to make sure that our heroes are also properly equipped as well. We want to assure that you, and they, have the proper equipment available to effectively and efficiently transport people out of harm’s way to a place of safety for assessment and treatment.

Compared to other US occupations, paramedics and EMTs have an injury rate that the NCBI states is three times above the national average. Even under normal circumstances, emergency personnel are under a great deal of stress, both physically and mentally. 

But the times we find ourselves in are anything but normal. 

An extraordinary event like the COVID-19 pandemic places additional stress on EMTs, while stretching budgets and safety protocols thin. Due to this pressure, it’s more important than ever to ensure that emergency teams have access to transport solutions that can maintain — and exceed — the current safety measures under extreme circumstances.

First responders often contend with unusual stressors when tackling casualty evacuation during disaster response — like reaching (and later moving) victims from hot zones or hard-to-reach places. Their response time has a significant impact on survival rates. As such, equipping them with the training and tools they need to work efficiently and safely can mean the difference between a patient’s life and death. 

With an increase in mass casualty incidents in recent years, first response teams are under more pressure than ever before to be disaster prepared. Whether it’s an active shooter incident or natural disaster, your casualty evacuation plan needs to be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that your EMS team members are able to respond to disaster, and evacuate victims, efficiently and safely. 

Here are five things to keep in mind when reviewing the casualty evacuation aspect of your disaster response plan:

Mass casualties require mass coordination by first responders. One of the most vital areas of this coordination in the treatment of victims is triage. Fortunately, experienced triage experts have been working to improve specialized response protocols to ensure that treatment is prioritized by those who need life-saving care first, while also improving the transportation times and safety of all involved. It is important that first responders stay up to date on the latest triage tactics for active shooter and mass casualty incidents. These tactics are designed to increase efficiency and determine the people who need help the most.

Police are under significant pressure with the rise of mass casualty and active shooter incidents. Combatting an increase in both violence and public visibility, these first responders are expected to quickly secure a scene with minimal harm to bystanders. This response is expected to happen on an extremely quick timetable. In situations such as active shooters, police must move beyond neighborhood peace-keeping to act as tactical responders and disaster experts. 

Mass casualties equal mass victims. There never seems to be enough first responders to meet patient needs. While we cannot yet prevent these mass incidents, we can help prepare with the right training and equipment.

Open wounds can be a common cause of cardinal conditions such as compromised airways, uncontrolled bleeding, changed mental status, and providing cause for suspected abuse.

As EMS providers, there are two clear categories of importance for patient transportation: protecting the patient and protecting EMS personnel. Administrators carry the responsibility of implementing safe practices to manage this transportation effectively by using knowledge of injury management to conduct training, and providing the tools and equipment needed to carry out these procedures.