The project is aiming in the first instance to provide a number of patient carry chairs for the ambulance service on the island.
The service would require two types of chairs, one for every day routine usage, and one to be used for heavier patients.
The chairs will be used to improve patient care and create a safer working environment for the staff, thereby reducing the already escalating injuries suffered by workers. The project aims to provide not only the equipment but will also be training staff in the usage of the chairs and developing their knowledge in manual handling awareness.
The chairs that have been identified as most suitable are:
 Carry Chair ( 6 required ) @ £477.39 per unit
 Carry Chair Mk 1 ( 12 required ) @ £199.00 per unit
To carry out the training for ambulance staff in St Lucia would also involve a cost which we are seeking support for. We estimated that the following would be required:
Return flights to St Lucia for trainers x 4
Training Material
Carriage / Shipping of equipment to St Lucia
This training will be delivered across the island to approximately 150 workers.
A UK report of the ‘People Handling Summit’ convened by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents on 20th October 2000 identified that back strain or injury accounts for more days off work than all other causes put together - about one third of all accidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive in the UK involve manual handling and in the health care sector this figure is one half. The Health Service in St Lucia is no different and also has a very high incidence of back injuries and days lost to work as a result of these.
We are looking to raise approximately £12,000 to cover the cost of this project and any assistance you can give would be greatly appreciated by our project and the community in St Lucia.
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