Canadian EMS provider designs chest harness to reduce injuries

New piece of gear improves weight distribution of gear and can be worn over PPE, said inventor Hannah Chevalier

By Leila Merrill

ESSEX COUNTY, Canada — An Essex-Windsor EMS paramedic has designed a new chest harness that will be offered to her and her co-workers, CBC reported.

The harness’ creator, acting district chief for Essex-Windsor EMS Hannah Chevalier, said it helps reduce injuries to the wearer.

Essex-Windsor EMS paramedics model the harnesses. (Photo/Essex County, Canada)

The chest harness holds devices such as a radio that typically have been attached to a waist belt. Chevalier said that the harness better centers the weight.

"The paramedics have been starting to realize the weight that originally where we were keeping the portables on our hips, it was always off-balance," she said.

The harness can be worn over personal protective equipment and has tear-away clips so that if someone, such as a patient, were to grab or pull it, the harness will tear away.

"It's eliminating the danger of getting that portable caught throughout a house or on a call, so that's helping too, keeping it close to the chest," Chevalier said.

The harnesses are being offered to members of Essex-Windsor EMS.

Chevalier worked on the harness with Conterra, an EMS equipment brand. It has been in the making for two years.