[July 22, 2011] Ambulance Inc., Laurel fire stations, rescue squads agree to continuing assistance Tweet CORBIN, Jul 22, 2011 (The Times-Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- About three months ago Laurel County Ambulance Inc. joined with county and city fire departments and rescue squads in accompanying them to traffic accidents that involved injuries. The London-Laurel County Communications Center would activate the supporting units in the area where the traffic accident had happened. Once on the scene the first responders from the fire departments would assess the scene, report back to the ambulance drivers by two-way radio and advise other responders to continue to the site or return to their stations. At a meeting of the Communications Center board Thursday, a look at how well the system had worked was discussed. Representatives from Ambulance Inc. and several members of fire departments and rescue squads were on hand and, for the most part, agreed that the system has worked well in many cases and agreed to keep up the system. That included particular cases where extrication of passengers was necessary. In some cases an extra person was called in to drive when a patient required extra care on the way to the hospital. While the ambulance employees were in the back of the vehicle caring for the patient, a fire department or rescue squad member would drive to the hospital. James Hacker, chief executive officer for Ambulance Inc., told the board that the test of the system was invariably successful. "In the past 90 days there has been a multitude of responses that we have had with the assistance of the rescue squads and fire departments," he said, adding, "It's been a great success." He explained that in at least one instance three helicopters were called to the scene of an accident and had it not been firefighters setting up landing zones and assisting in the landing and lifting of the helicopters the patients would not have been taken for medical care as quickly. "The help that we have received has been valuable. In fact, most of the time when we have transitioned our scene flights these firefighters are there before we are," Hacker said. He noted that the responsibility of setting up landing zones has gone to the firefighters and rescue squad members. They also provide traffic control wrecks, on interstate and other major highways. "They've also been helpful in helping us transport multiple patients to the ambulance and extrication from wrecked vehicles," he added. He said there are some things that might need to be fixed, but for the most part things are running well. "We need to come up with some protocols for ourselves," he said. A meeting to discuss those protocols will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 7 at the training center near the American Legion Hall on KY 229 north of its intersection with KY 192. "This is a great thing that is happening, something that most of the counties are doing." He concluded, "When you are going to a scene, you don't know what you have until you get there. And when you get there you don't want to spend eight or 10 minutes waiting for additional help to come and help you." He added that the patients "have fared better." Bush Fire Department Chief Phillip Williams spoke. He asked the board to approve paging, by the communications center, fire departments to assist on traffic accidents with injuries. Fire departments can easily be on the scene of such incidents quickly, he said, and can advise the oncoming ambulance team as to what they will find, how much more assistance is needed and control of traffic, Williams said. "We have a mile or two to travel, compared with the ambulance units coming all the way from London," he added. "They could be 20 minutes or more away. The time is important." And, he said, knowing fire control and first aid, the firefighters at the scene can be of major importance before the ambulances arrive. The board approved continuing the program. To see more of The Times-Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.thetimestribune.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, The Times-Tribune, Corbin, Ky. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]