Reports given at the August 21 Western Carroll County Ambulance District Board of Commissioners meeting indicated a very busy summer for first responders and Emergency Medical Technicians. Eureka Springs Fire Chief Nick Samac stated his crews responded to 146 incidents during June and July.
Holiday Island Fire Chief Bob Clave reported there was a recurring non-emergency situation in Holiday Island in which one individual asked for a lift assist 34 times in July and 47 times during the first 13 days of August. Clave said the gentleman was taken to a hospital on August 13 and will go next to a care facility.
Mike FitzPatrick, speaking for Eureka Springs-Rural, reported 15 calls in both June and July. He said there were two calls – one of them a gunshot suicide – in which the victim was already deceased when responders arrived “which responders have to handle and do their best.” Inspiration Point Chief Ed Thompson also noted an incident in which his responders arrived to find a deceased person.
FitzPatrick also told of a child who was drowning in a motel pool but nearby adults performed CPR and the child was breathing again when EMTs arrived. “Hooray for bystanders who know what to do,” he said.
He reported a person in a remote part of the county suffered a stroke and five first responders were on the scene within minutes taking care of the patient before the ambulance arrived. He said situations like this are the reason having first responders throughout the county is so important.
FitzPatrick also stated one of his own first responders had a heart incident, “and the whole department showed up.” Samac commented 12 responders were on the scene, which demonstrated the commitment of crewmembers to their each other and the public at large.
Other items
- Clave commented there was a bigger focus this year at the EMT convention in Hot Springs on active shooter and mass casualty situations. He also learned new strategies for treating stroke patients.
- EMR Alliance Chair Lynn Palmer said ESFD would host an EMT class in September. She said it is the only off-site location Northwest Arkansas Community College allows to hold the class.
- Clave reported Medi-Evac now stages a helicopter in Holiday Island.
- Sam Ward said he has been working with staff at Eureka Springs Hospital on a deal so first responders get coverage for medical attention. He also reported there has been progress on the long-term communication upgrade for the county. “We’re trying to upgrade things to where they should be,” he stated. “We’ve got a lotta lotta lotta work to do yet.”
- Commissioners voted in the following slate of officers for the year: Chair – Sam Ward; Vice-chair – Jim Hughes; Secretary – Connie Deaton; Treasurer – Al Selleck.
- There is still one seat vacant on the commission.
Next meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 4 p.m., at HIFD.