By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
It might be wise to create a county-wide emergency
medical technician's board.
Chris Neilsen, East Juab Ambulance Association, said
he was not representing the rest of the association in
suggesting the advisory board be formed because, while he
had mentioned it to some of them, he had not formally
proposed it.
"The state doesn't recognize the EMT First
Responders," said Neilsen. "They leave the control of the
groups to the local administrative council.
The board of EMTs which now works needs to be
re-structured in order to provide the necessary
guidance.
There is a regional director who, through the state
department of health and emergency services, provides
direction and there is a national standard for all First
Responders. However, the local advisory board would be the
most logical way to provide direction.
When police, fire, emergency medical services and
other like organizations were all included in the grouping
made for grant money, the county was asked to prioritize the
top needs and to then make requests for funding in keeping
with those priorities.
A rough organization was set up, he said. It consisted
of a fire chief from each community and officers of the
various EMT groups in the county.
"These are my own ideas and there needs to be much,
much, much more work done before such a plan could be
presented," said Neilsen.
Wm. Boyd Howarth, commission chairman, said he did
not understand the full functions of a board proposed to act
in an advisory capacity. He asked Neilsen to further explain
his ideas to which Neilsen stated that his ideas were, at
this point, just that &emdash;ideas.
"Well, you have thrown your bait in the water," said
Howarth. "Do you hope to hook?"
Neilsen said he would suggest the county attorney form
a set of bi-laws to govern the board and that it be formed
much like the county planning commission.
The nursing director of the local hospital, the
medical director of the emergency medical technicians, and a
representative from each of the emergency medical
associations county-wide would all have a seat on the
governing board.
"There are some issues to deal with," said
Neilsen.
Commissioners agreed they would like Neilsen to
discuss the formation of an advisory board with other EMTs
and then return to the county with a proposal which could
work.
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