Service and safety updates: Pepper Pike gets $153,500 county maintenance funds; chiefs describe new EMS capabilities

At the Jan. 13 meeting Pepper Pike’s service and public safety departments briefed council on recent operational items and funding. The service director reported receiving county maintenance funds (reported in the meeting as about $153,500) to help with roadway maintenance and public‑works projects.

During department reports, the fire/EMS chief described the department’s recent technical rescue response to a trench incident in which a regional technical‑rescue team extricated a trapped worker; the chief said Pepper Pike personnel assisted. The chief also outlined an extensive training schedule for the month including firefighter safety and survival drills, rapid intervention crew training and advanced EMS updates.

The department has acquired video laryngoscopes that give paramedics a camera view of the throat and trachea and allow for endotracheal intubation in the field; the chief said staff will receive certification training. The chief also said personnel will be trained in surgical airway procedures (surgical tracheostomy and finger thoracostomy) for rare, extreme cases, and that the department will receive extracorporeal CPR (ECMO) protocol training. A powered stair chair for safe movement of patients in homes has been put into service.

The chief announced the upcoming retirement of Lieutenant Dave Tapps after 25 years with the department; the department will conduct assessment centers to fill the vacancy.

What’s next: service and safety staff will proceed with planned projects and training; the council thanked staff for grant work and operational readiness.