Not Just For Firefighters; Down With The Stairchair

Thanks to Rod from Worcester EMS for pointing out this link.
While sponsored by a group attempting to tackle health problems amongst firefighters, I think they could easily have been describing anyone who makes a living responding to emergencies with lights and sirens.
We work so hard to help those around us that it's so easy to forget about ourselves.
Although there have been some EMS initiatives, the fire service is really striving to address those things that make heart disease the most prolific killer of public safety personnel.

In perhaps a more EMS-centric vein, JEMS.com recently posted an article about back injury prevention.
This is where I find the state's declaration that we stair-chair EVERY patient to be not just ridiculous, but downright career-threatening.
Can someone please tell me why I should risk a career-ending back injury stair-chairing a Section 12 patient with no physical issues whatsoever?
With all the talk about selective c-spine immobilization and the recent research questioning the wisdom of backboarding everyone who calls 911, I think we need to look at stairchairs the same way we look at surgical airway kits -- something only to be used when needed and appropriate.
I want to do this job until I retire, and I need all my discs and vertebrae in their proper location and functional.

Here's an interesting .pdf file about expanded scope Paramedics, an idea that was in vogue for a brief period a couple of years ago. I'm always intrigued by ideas like these, but we work in Massachusetts. I'm not holding my breath...