Commissioners direct EMS to donate surplus stretchers, approve research cooperation after attorney review

Grand County commissioners directed EMS to donate surplus Ferno-brand stretchers—left over after last year’s grant-funded ambulance upgrades—and to handle disposal of any remaining units as the department deems appropriate. EMS staff said the county had six stretchers available; Red Rocks Community College requested two for its training program and staff recommended donating units rather than auctioning with little expected return.

"There is opportunity that there may be some value if we were to put these cots to auction," said the EMS presenter, noting that donation would support training for future EMS providers who often go on to work for Grand County. Commissioner moved and the board approved direction to donate two units to Red Rocks and to dispose of other surplus equipment per EMS recommendation.

In a related EMS item, commissioners amended and approved authorization for the EMS chief to enter a letter of cooperation with the University of Colorado Boulder to permit a student research survey of EMS providers about language-access challenges. The board required county attorney review before signature. Separately, the EMS chief updated the board on the whole blood pilot: Grand County provided a third unit to a Winter Park-area patient, and Vitalant supplies arrive weekly and are rotated to Saint Anthony's; staff reported no systemic waste of units aside from one administrative error over a holiday.