By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Tucker County EMS Director Amanda Simmons addressed the Tucker County Commission about some recent developments with her agency. Among the subjects discussed, Simmons informed the Commission that EMS had received the cots purchased by the County as well as ordered the Lucas CPR assistance devices the County funded. Simmons also informed the Commission of a recent demonstration at Tucker County High School involving the Simulation Truck and the new cot system. Also discussed was the verbal confirmation of a contract with Timberline ski area.
“Our cot finally arrived,” Simmons said. “It arrived two days ago from New Jersey so we’ll give back the loaner cot.”
. “We had yesterday a meeting up at the school with all of the health students,” Simmons said. “And we took up the Simulation Truck as well as 52 and had them actually get onto the new cot, let them load and unload. I said, ‘This is what your parents have been talking about that has been in the newspaper.’ So, they got to see that.”
I said, ‘Now imagine if you’re on a crew having to lift that cot with that patient every time and look at how safe this is,’” Simmons said. “And they just loved it.”
Other demonstrations were given at the event, according to Simmons. “Steven Mitchell showed them how to do a quick trac and these other things and they were just loving it, eating it up,” Simmons said.
. “We had great success with that,” Simmons said. “It was wonderful that we could take 54 out there and show them the new cot system. They just loved it.”
Simmons also informed the Commission that the Lucas CPR assist devices had also been ordered and paid for. “Also, we have the two Lucases that have been paid for and we are just waiting for them to arrive,” Simmons said. “It’s going to be life changing.”
Simmons also addressed the status of the medics on crew with the entity. According to Simmons three new medics have come on board in addition to four current medics. “We do have a medic that just come onboard with us part time,” Simmons said. “He’ also in a Doctorate. He’s with P.S. Martin. He loves it here locally. That’s four medics that are working part time for us besides the other three that we have.”
Simmons said there will be more medics this winter to assist with the needs of the community. “In the winter we will have more medics,” Simmons said.
Pending contract signature, Simmons said that the Ambulance Authority had been told they would be contracted to service the ski area of Timberline. “We did receive verbal confirmation that we received the contract for Timberline for the ski area,” Simmons said. “We have two dates for Randolph County will also be there, but that is so we can have medic assist just in case because it is so crowded during that time that we will both be there. Tucker County will always be at the ski area.”
The next meeting of the Tucker County Commission will be held on December 13 at 9 a.m. at the Old Courtroom of the Tucker County Courthouse in Parsons.