UATP aids in effort to make sure wheelchairs are transported safely with patients

SLC mayor unveils wheelchair ramp trailers; UATP and UCAT help train firefighters on moving wheelchairs safely

SLC mayor's office ADA Coordinator Sarah Benj, center,
watches the trailer demonstration with
Mayor Jackie Biskupski as the trailers are demonstrated.

SALT LAKE CITY—This morning, Salt Lake City Mayor Jacki Biskupski unveiled two wheelchair lift trailers that will help emergency responders to transport not only wheelchair users who experience an emergency, but also their power wheelchairs.

“We want our community to be accessible to everyone,” she said. That includes ensuring that no one is left behind in an emergency—or that they have to do without the technology that helps them be independent.

“Wheelchairs are often a lifeblood to those who use them,” said Karl Lieb, Salt Lake City fire chief, during the unveiling event at City Hall. But the power chairs are also heavy, and they’ve presented a problem for firefighters who respond to an emergency. “It is a challenge,” Leib said. “I know what it takes to get these things located from point A to point B.” 

So does Tom Boman, UATP coordinator in Salt Lake City. “I don’t think as people without disabilities, we get the connection between equipment and independence,” he said. “If somehow our legs could be separated from us and someone went to a little extra effort to get them back to us, maybe we’d get it.”

Boman recently presented in a video training for the Salt Lake City Fire Department, helping explain how to move a power wheelchair that has been turned off. It’s important information because when a person who is not familiar with a power wheelchair moves it while the motor is engaged, it could end up damaging the chair.

It’s a different project, but both represent the effort to make sure chairs are moved safely from the site of an emergency to the hospital. The portable trailers helps ensure that the chair travels with the patient. The training helps protect the equipment and the people who operate it.

“We don’t want to break something that is going to be a financial burden on the patient,” Lieb said.

“This is amazing,” said Ken Reid, assistive technology specialist at the Utah Center for Assistive Technology. He attended the press event and watched with a smile. “Before, you left your chair at home. … It’s good to know they’re thinking about people with disabilities.”

Reid, who uses a wheelchair himself, coordinated the filming of the training video between UCAT, the SLC Fire Department and UATP in SLC. “I’m thankful that this happened. … We worked with UATP of Salt Lake. They had a bunch of wheelchairs that were from different manufacturers.” In the video, Boman demonstrated how to move several different types of wheelchairs. 

“It’s a good step in the right direction,” Boman said, “knowing that they’re making an effort to treat people’s equipment without damaging it.”

The city obtained the two ramp trailers after Sarah Benj, ADA coordinator for the SLC mayor’s office, researched how cities handled the transport of wheelchairs. Most cities she surveyed either didn’t transport the wheelchair, or they contracted with private companies. Salt Lake’s two wheelchair ramp trailers will be stationed at Station One and Station 11.

A wheelchair user herself, Benj went to the hospital several months ago. She had to leave her wheelchair behind, so she’s glad wheelchair users in the future will have better options.

“We’re hoping that other cities will see the same need and do the same thing,” she said.

Firefighters loaded a power wheelchair, secured it and covered it, preparing for transport.