Excerpts from the ChicagoSunTimes.com:

The Chicago Fire Department’s 75 advanced life-support ambulances will be equipped with powered electric cots to minimize paramedic injuries and speed patient treatment.

Three years ago, the cots were field-tested on Chicago ambulances with mixed results. When paramedics complained that the motor made the cot too heavy, the city decided not to go through with the purchase.

Paramedics continued to place patients on standard stretchers and lift them into the ambulance, despite the risk of shoulder, neck, and back injuries.

Now, the city is prepared to try again.

“Beginning in late 2017 and into 2018, CFD will replace all ambulance cots with motor-elevated units,” the city’s 2018 budget overview states.

Joe Davilo, EMS Director for the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, said he was indifferent to the upgrade.

Last year, the Chicago Fire Department spent $50.5 million on overtime – 66 percent over its allotted budget for 2016 – with the largest totals going to paramedics.

This year, the fire department got off to another record start, with $13.9 million in first-quarter overtime spending. That was up 12 percent from the $12.4 million in overtime spending during the same period last year.

A retired Chicago paramedic, who asked to remain anonymous, predicted that electric cots would eliminate as much as 30 percent of all paramedic injuries suffered on the job and overtime triggered by those absences.

The veteran paramedic said, “Putting more ambulances on the street would be even better. What’s killing us is running from one call to another all day and all night.”

thanks Niko