Western Ambulance District splits vote over funding Lifepacks, new ambulance

HOLIDAY ISLAND -- The Western Carroll County Ambulance District (WCCAD) was faced with some tough decisions Monday after discussions about what the appropriate use of two-mill tax funds is.

Before the commission were requests by the City of Eureka Springs to purchase Lifepack 15 units for use both in the city and in the Western District and to purchase an ambulance for use in the Holiday Island area.

Each vote was split. The commission denied the request for Lifepacks by 2-1, with Commissioner John Dolce dissenting. The commission approved the purchase of the ambulance by 2-1, with Chairman Mary Ann Schaefer dissenting.

The request for the Lifepacks was for WCCAD to purchase three units, costing $35,000 each. They would have been housed on Eureka's three ambulances for use both in the city and in the Western District, where Eureka is contracted to respond.

The legal ramifications of such a move have been discussed at length, with a history of WCCAD being sued for funding any equipment to be used in the city limits. Eureka Springs is not part of the Western District, and its residents pay for their ambulance and fire service with a separate tax.

Attorney Matt Bishop was present at the meeting at WCCAD's request.

"Your question is, is a taxpayer in Beaver asking, 'Why are we purchasing something for Eureka Springs?'" he said.

Assistant Fire Chief Bob Pettus, representing the City of Eureka Springs, said the real question was about providing the best care possible for residents.

But Schaefer and Commissioner Chuck Olson said it was not the value of the equipment in question but the legality of paying for it to be used in the city.

The commission then turned to the discussion of the new ambulance, which Holiday Island Fire Chief Jack Deaton said would cost around $95,000.

The current unit, which Holiday Island purchased from WCCAD years ago, is failing and not worth repairing, Deaton said.

He said the unit is not an ALS (Advanced Life Support) ambulance but could become one with the presence of a paramedic if needed. Instead, it is a BLS (Basic Life Support) unit but seldom transports patients. It is mainly used to carry equipment, such as backboards, that cannot fit in Emergency Medical Responders' (EMRs) vehicles, Deaton said.

Other departments in the Western District respond with fire engines that carry backboards.

Deaton has argued that when responding to a car accident or other outdoors call in the winter, the BLS ambulance can be used to load a patient and keep them warm and stabilized until Eureka gets there.

It usually takes Eureka close to 15 minutes and sometimes more to arrive on scene in Holiday Island.

As Holiday Island has typically had more than 50 percent of the district's medical calls because of its aging population, Deaton argued there is a need for such a vehicle stationed in Holiday Island.

Schaefer said her concern was WCCAD spending $100,000 out of its budget to purchase a vehicle that is not used to transport patients and only carries equipment.

"How often do we use an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator)?" Deaton asked. "Not that often."

WCCAD has equipped every EMR with an AED.

"But when you need it, it can save a life," Pettus said, but added the BLS has seldom transported patients.

He argued the unit should be stationed in Eureka Springs for use in all the Western District.

But Inspiration Point Fire Chief Jason Sprenger suggested WCCAD could not only see the need for such equipment but where it should be stored: "Probably closer to your largest call volume, and that would be Holiday Island."

The current BLS unit was converted into an ALS and transported patients to Eureka a couple times, Deaton said, and has been used to transport BLS patients within Holiday Island.

He then relayed an incident that took place two years ago.

"I sat with a man for 38 minutes and couldn't get an ambulance, and he went to the hospital and died two days later."

He said Eureka's ambulances were tied up on other calls, one of them out of state under a former fire chief who decided to respond to Hurricane Katrina.

"I will never again wait for 38 minutes to transport a patient," Deaton said.

Although the motion was approved to purchase the vehicle, with Schaefer dissenting, she then moved to delay disbursing the funds until WCCAD had a complete list of needs and equipment for its EMRs. Olson seconded the motion, but after discussion, the vote was 2-1 not to delay disbursing the funds.

In other business, WCCAD voted to shift money from one of its maturing CDs to a new money market checking account.

Schaefer also handed out a calendar of 2010 meetings. WCCAD will be meeting on a monthly basis until further notice.

The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 19 at 4 p.m. at the Grassy Knob Community Center.