--- title: How Pittsburgh Firefighters Got a Better Handle on Lift Assist Calls description: Discover how the Binder Lift made a critical difference for Pittsburgh firefighters responding to a lift assist call involving a 300-pound bedridden man who fell to the floor. image: https://www.phaseintl.com/hubfs/case%20studies/Pittsburgh%20lt.%20chad%20hirosky.webp --- [Skip to content](https://www.phaseintl.com/case-studies/pittsburgh-fire-bureau#main-content) [![Phase Logo](https://www.phaseintl.com/hubfs/phase-logo.svg "Phase Logo")](https://www.phaseintl.com/) - [Solutions](https://www.phaseintl.com/solutions) Show submenu for Solutions - [Binder Lift](https://www.phaseintl.com/binder-lift) - [Binder Transfer](https://www.phaseintl.com/binder-transfer) - [Binder Extension](https://www.phaseintl.com/binder-handle-extension) - [Emergency Child Restraint](https://www.phaseintl.com/emergency-child-restraint) - [XDCuff](https://www.phaseintl.com/xdcuff) - [Training](https://www.phaseintl.com/training) Show submenu for Training - [Product Training](https://www.phaseintl.com/training) - [CE Training](https://www.phaseintl.com/courses/mastering-patient-handling) - Resources Show submenu for Resources - [Binder Lift Case Studies](https://www.phaseintl.com/case-studies) - [About](https://www.phaseintl.com/about-phase) - [Contact](https://www.phaseintl.com/contact) - [Solutions](https://www.phaseintl.com/solutions) Show submenu for Solutions - [Binder Lift](https://www.phaseintl.com/binder-lift) - [Binder Transfer](https://www.phaseintl.com/binder-transfer) - [Binder Extension](https://www.phaseintl.com/binder-handle-extension) - [Emergency Child Restraint](https://www.phaseintl.com/emergency-child-restraint) - [XDCuff](https://www.phaseintl.com/xdcuff) - [Training](https://www.phaseintl.com/training) Show submenu for Training - [Product Training](https://www.phaseintl.com/training) - [CE Training](https://www.phaseintl.com/courses/mastering-patient-handling) - Resources Show submenu for Resources - [Binder Lift Case Studies](https://www.phaseintl.com/case-studies) - [About](https://www.phaseintl.com/about-phase) - [Contact](https://www.phaseintl.com/contact) [![telephone icon](https://www.phaseintl.com/hubfs/img/icon-phone-traditional-yellow.svg) 855.239.5438](tel:855-239-5438) [![Request free product trial](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/22759948/0352a652-2fa3-4730-b2a0-c85fe5d7dabf.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/22759948/0352a652-2fa3-4730-b2a0-c85fe5d7dabf) Case Study # How Pittsburgh Firefighters Got a Better Handle on Patient Lifting Binder Lift lets rescuers move more weight with fewer people. ![Pittsburgh lt. chad hirosky](https://www.phaseintl.com/hubfs/Pittsburgh%20lt.%20chad%20hirosky.webp) ![Pittsburgh photo PNG](https://www.phaseintl.com/hubfs/Pittsburgh%20photo%20PNG.png) The Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire provides fire suppression and prevention for the City of Pittsburgh, as well as BLS response on medical details. In all, the bureau is responsible for 55.5 square miles with a population of 305,841 as of the 2013 Census estimation. Location Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Provider Lt. Chad Hirosky, Firefighter Paramedic RN Patient Event 300-pound bedridden patient slid out of bed and fell to the floor. Product Binder Lift [Request Free Product Trial](https://www.phaseintl.com/free-trial) ## The Situation When Pittsburgh firefighter Chad Hirosky got the call for a lift assist, he recognized the address as a common destination for his engine company. “That patient is a 300-pound man who’s bedridden,” said the 46-year-old lieutenant. “Sometimes he slides out of bed and falls to the floor. When we get there, he just wants to be helped back up. It used to take four of us to do that with a modified belt we’d make out of something in the house.” The frequency of calls for lift assistance has been steadily increasing for the department. It is not uncommon for the same patient to call multiple times in a month. Previously, the responding firefighters did not have the necessary equipment to assist with these types of calls. Consequently, more and more firefighters began experiencing aches and pains. In fact, a couple of them even had to go on disability. "This situation has made us realize that we are no longer in our 30's," he said.   > “We use it \[Binder Lift\] in some pretty tight situations, even when someone’s twisted up in the shower. Instead of blowing out our backs with traditional lifting, we get that extra leverage.” Lt. Chad Hirosky, Firefighter Paramedic, RN ## The Binder Lift Difference Last year, Hirosky started looking for better equipment. “I sort of stumbled on [Binder Lift](https://www.phaseintl.com/binder-lift),” the veteran firefighter recalled. “There’s not a lot out there for ambulation assists – picking people up and helping them stand on their own legs.” Hirosky got approval to evaluate Binder Lift on the streets. “Nothing really compared,” he said. “Binder was the only device with so many lifting points to support the torso, plus leg straps. For me, those were the deciding factors.” Lifting and moving a patient is a complex task that necessitates maintaining correct posture and utilizing appropriate body mechanics, which cannot be achieved without the aid of specialized tools that attach handles to the patient. Now there’s a Binder Lift on every Metropolitan Pittsburgh fire truck so Hirosky and his team can safely and proficiently move patients without running the risk of serious injuries.  ### Discover more success stories ![Eau Claire Fire Department](https://www.phaseintl.com/hubfs/case%20studies/Eau%20Claire%20Picture.jpg) Wisconsin #### 350lb Patient with Bilateral Rotator Cuff Injuries Read the Story ![Big Lake Fire Department](https://www.phaseintl.com/hubfs/img/Happy%20Customers/big-lake-fire-dept.jpg) Texas #### 500lb Patient Calls Big Lake Texas EMS Over 30 Times for Lift Assistance Read the Story ![400-Pound Patient Falls in Back Room of “Tetris- Like” Home](https://www.phaseintl.com/hubfs/img/tetris-texas.png) Texas #### 400-Pound Patient Falls in Back Room of “Tetris Like” Home Read the Story Field Trial ### Elevate your patient handling game - Signing up takes less than 2 minutes - You'll be able to use the product in the field for 30 days - Returning the product is free and easy via a provided return label [![Request Product Trial](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/22759948/7a104771-355f-44e9-9881-39f3e429a3b9.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/22759948/7a104771-355f-44e9-9881-39f3e429a3b9) ![Binder Lift Product Free Trial](https://www.phaseintl.com/hubfs/products/Binder%20Lift/binder-lift-standard-nylon-transparent.png) [![Phase Logo Light](https://www.phaseintl.com/hubfs/logo/phase-logo-light.svg)](https://www.phaseintl.com/) ###### We're on a mission To empower emergency care providers to have longer and healthier careers by providing the equipment and training necessary to safely move patients of any size with ease. - Solutions - [Binder Lift](https://www.phaseintl.com/binder-lift) - [Binder Transfer](https://www.phaseintl.com/binder-transfer) - [Binder Handle Extensions](https://www.phaseintl.com/binder-handle-extension) - [Emergency Child Restraint](https://www.phaseintl.com/emergency-child-restraint) - [XDCuff](https://www.phaseintl.com/xdcuff) - Training - [Product Training](https://www.phaseintl.com/training) - [CE Training](https://www.phaseintl.com/courses/mastering-patient-handling) - Resources - [Case Studies](https://www.phaseintl.com/case-studies) - Company - [About](https://www.phaseintl.com/about-phase) - [Contact](https://www.phaseintl.com/contact) - [Request Free Trial](https://www.phaseintl.com/free-trial) ###### Receive Product Updates ###### Get in Touch [855.239.5438](tel:+18552395438) [info@phaseintl.com](mailto:info@phaseintl.com) Copyright © 2026 Binder Lift Inc. All rights reserved. [Sitemap](https://www.phaseintl.com/sitemap.xml) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Rick Binder", "url" : "https://www.phaseintl.com/case-studies/author/rick-binder" }, "dateModified" : "2023-10-11T19:06:14.087Z", "datePublished" : "2023-08-02T19:41:20.000Z", "headline" : "How Pittsburgh Firefighters Got a Better Handle on Lift Assist Calls", "image" : [ "https://www.phaseintl.com/hubfs/case%20studies/Pittsburgh%20lt.%20chad%20hirosky.webp" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.phaseintl.com/case-studies/pittsburgh-fire-bureau", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.phaseintl.com/hubfs/phase-logo.svg" }, "name" : "PHASE Intl" } } ```