Two Lansing police officers learned the hard way that moving incapacitated people, particularly if they are unconscious, is not easy.
So they have created a company to sell a sling that can be used to carry people, and folds into a space no bigger than a number 10 envelope. Already they’ve invested $6,000 in attorney fees and a training video for their new Evac-q-sling.
Scott Ellis, 38, and Chad Frasier, 32, have been with the Lansing Police Department (LPD) 13 years. They both are members of the city’s Special Tactics and Rescue Team (START). They’re the ones that handle hostage incidents, among other things.
A year and a half ago, Frasier “blew out his knee” and had to be carried out of a dicey situation. A sling like the Evac-q-sling would have been helpful, Ellis says.
About the same time, Bill Hough, a paramedic, showed a prototype for a sling to a seamstress accustomed to working with canvas. She made improvements and with Frasier, they got a patent. Ellis and Frasier set up their own company to market and distribute the slings.
They are discovering many potential clients: paramedics and emergency medical services in general; hospital and assisted living personnel needing to move people, particularly for evacuations; homebound people needing to be moved; law enforcers needing to move passive resistant protestors; and the military.
“The market is just gigantic,” says Ellis.
In two months, in their off duty hours, Ellis and Frasier have sold 17 Evac-q-slings at $225 each. (They come with a 10-year-warranty.) But the officers have made numerous calls to governments and hospitals that are considering buying the slings in their next budget cycles.
The Lansing Police Department will not be a client.
“We have ethics,” says Ellis.
Instead, Central Michigan Police Distributors, an independent company in Lansing, will carry the sling and approach the LPD.
“We hope to have the product nationwide very soon,” Ellis says.
Source: Scott Ellis, Evac-q-sling
Gretchen Cochran, Innovation & Jobs editor, may be reached here.
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