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Court discusses ambulance equipment needs and a dispatch lapse that delayed response to a multivehicle crash
Summary
Officials described the need to purchase a power-load system for a remounted ambulance and raised concerns after an apparent dispatch cancellation delayed ambulance response to a three-car and semi crash.
Ballard County Fiscal Court heard two related emergency-services matters on Feb. 18: a request for equipment to equip recently remounted ambulances and a discussion about an apparent dispatch decision that left county rescuers off-scene for approximately 10 minutes after a reported multi-vehicle crash.
County staff explained that two new ambulances require power-load systems (a device that assists loading patients) and that a $25,000 credit had been applied toward equipment, leaving an estimated net need of about $40,000 for purchase. Staff said one power-load was salvaged from a wrecked ambulance and installed in another remounted unit, which shifted procurement needs to the remaining vehicle.
Separately, a rescue squad representative and other court members described a Feb. incident in Kettle involving three cars and a semi. According to court discussion, initial 911 dispatch told emergency services to respond; a later caller reportedly told dispatch there were no injuries and the initial ambulance was canceled. County rescuers on scene said they arrived about 10 minutes after the crash and found no ambulance present; members criticized the cancellation practice and requested a review of dispatch policy.
Court members agreed that once an ambulance is dispatched, only on-scene public-safety supervisors should be authorized to cancel it. The court asked staff to review the dispatch and rescue-squad notification policies and to clarify county expectations with the regional 9-1-1/dispatch authority.
No formal procurement vote to buy the power-load system occurred at the Feb. 18 meeting; staff indicated they would bring full quotes and contract documentation to a subsequent meeting for procurement approval.
