Rescuers Feeling the Strain of Handling Obese Patients

"Ever since then, I hear from a half a dozen to a dozen (ambulance services) a year," Southwest Ambulance spokesman Joshua Weiss said.

But Johnston of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians said he also wants better training of rescue workers on handling obese patients.

"We need to study this problem and develop good protocols," he said, "because it's going to get to be more and more of an issue."

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