Putnam EMS Seeking Grant Funding For Stair Chairs

Putnam County EMS will likely apply for another $150,000 Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

EMS Director Tommy Copeland said he would use the funding to purchase powered stair chairs.

“We’ve got stair chairs on our trucks now that you can manually carry them (patients) up or roll them down a set of stairs,” Copeland said. “These will have actually a battery operation on them, so the stair chair will go up or down the stairs under power.”

Copeland said the battery-operated stair chairs would help prevent injuries to ambulance workers.

The Putnam County Fiscal Review Committee recommended applying for the grant during Monday night’s meeting. The full county commission will consider the recommendation during next week’s meeting.

Putnam County received the same grant after applying last year. That grant provided partial funding for brand new power cots.