WCCAD to weigh purchase of defibrillators on a case-by-case basis

EUREKA SPRINGS -- At its Jan. 13 meeting, the Western Carroll County Ambulance District (WCCAD) agreed to consider the request of Eureka Springs Fire Chief Eddie Davis to equip paramedics or EMTs who work for the city with emergency equipment, such as automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) for use when they respond during off-duty hours in their home districts as emergency medical responders (EMRs).

WCCAD equips

rural departments only

Each year, each department turns in a list of EMRs, and WCCAD equips them with clothing, an emergency bag and equipment such as radios and AEDs.

The district does not, however, furnish such equipment to city ambulance crews because it is included in the contract payment they receive from the district out of the 2-mil property tax revenues residents pay for their ambulance service.

Keeping district and city equipment and supplies separate has been no easy task.

A win-win

"I'm not sure it's a policy decision," said Commissioner Dick Woodmansee. "If you want to respond in the area where you live, that sounds like a win-win."

"If they show they're responding and using the equipment responsibly," said Commissioner Mary Ann Schaefer.

Davis said his situation is a little different, where he is the chief not only of the city department but of the Eureka rural department.

"All of our EMRs are contracted to respond in any area where our ambulance responds, and if they are going to respond, they need equipment," he said. "We have a paramedic living in Holiday Island, and it would be better for him to respond from there and be equipped with an AED."

Holiday Island's representative, Bob Clave, said there will be other people who show up to a call who have equipment.

"That's Holiday Island, though," said Inspiration Point representative Jason Sprenger. "We recently had a call where only one person showed up, and if they hadn't had any equipment ..."

WCCAD decided to take each request for equipment on a case-by-case basis. If an EMR makes a request for equipment, and their chief agrees, it can be brought to the commissioners for their consideration.

New maps and equipment list

WCCAD received new maps of EMR locations and the current equipment list, put together by Holiday Island Fire Chief Jack Deaton.

"We have some areas we don't have coverage as well as we'd like," Clave said.

Davis said his department received a $1,000 grant from Wal-Mart for radios for EMRs, and they would be put into various areas.

Call reports

Davis handed out emergency call reports for the second quarter of the fiscal year (ending in June), which include October, November and December.

In October, Eureka responded to 45 calls, including: 26 in Holiday Island; three in Grassy Knob; nine in Inspiration Point; two on Hwy. 23S.; one on Hwy. 23N.; three on US62E; and one on US62W. There were no third-out calls and one call four minutes over 15 minutes, due to poor address signage.

In November, there were 34 calls, including: 20 in Holiday Island; two each in Grassy Knob and Inspiration Point; three on Hwy. 23S; one on Hwy. 23N; six on US62E; and none on US62W. There was one third-out call and one call three minutes over 15 minutes, due to distance down Mundell Rd.

In December, there were 38 calls, including: 20 in Holiday Island; two in Grassy Knob; three in Inspiration Point; nine on Hwy. 23S; none on Hwy. 23N; three on US62E; and one on US62W. There were two third-out calls and five calls over 15 minutes. Of those, four were due to distance (one at one minute over, two at five minutes and one at six minutes) and one was due, eight minutes over, to poor directions.

In the second quarter, Holiday Island had 56 percent of the total district calls, Grassy Knob seven percent, Inspiration Point and Hwy. 23S each 14 percent, Hwy. 23N and US62W each two percent and US62E 12 percent.

Treasurer's report

The treasurer's report covering Nov. 26 through the end of the year showed income of $69,000 from millage payments and interest; and expenditures of $89,000 in contract payments, supplies and training. With a checking balance of $67,000 and certificates-of-deposit of $330,000, the district has a total of $397,000.

In 2008, the district received $216,000 in millage receipts, with Eureka Springs being paid $184,000 of that by ordinance.

WCCAD has scheduled its next meeting for Tuesday, March 24, at 4 p.m. at the Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District office at 110 Woodsdale Dr., Holiday Island.