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County approves biometric narcotics safes and LUCAS devices for EMS
Summary
The board authorized purchase of eight biometric narcotics safes for ambulances ($41,062.14) and approved procurement of LUCAS chest-compression devices, both contingent on legal review; purchases are intended to meet DEA accountability guidance and improve cardiac-care capability.
Fire Chief Danny Stephens asked the board to approve two equipment purchases to bring EMS into compliance with federal accountability expectations and to upgrade cardiac-resuscitation capacity. The board approved a sole-source purchase of eight biometric safes and a tracking system at $41,062.14 to be paid from the EMS Department 36 equipment line, contingent on legal review of the service contract and pursuit of a vendor warranty if available. Chief Stephens said the safes use biometric fingerprint access plus RFID tamper-evident tags that log lot numbers and who accessed narcotics, providing audit trails the Department can use to investigate discrepancies.
Chief Stephens also requested LUCAS battery-powered chest-compression devices compatible with existing Stryker equipment; the board approved the purchase contingent on legal review. Commissioners pressed for assurances the devices would be included in daily equipment checks and maintenance protocols; Chief Stephens said the devices will be part of daily ambulance equipment inspections and that spare batteries would be stocked. The board asked staff to explore warranty and service-contract options; Administration noted a quoted service contract for maintenance approached $45,000 and said staff would review cost-effectiveness and legal terms before execution.
Why it matters: The biometric safes address DEA accountability expectations for controlled substances on ambulances by recording who accessed medication and tracking lot numbers and expirations; the LUCAS devices provide automated, hands-free chest compressions that free personnel to perform other tasks during cardiac events.
What happens next: Legal counsel will review the vendor service contract for the biometric safes and the LUCAS procurement; staff will implement daily inspection and maintenance protocols and finalize funding from EMS equipment lines.
