By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The East Juab County Ambulance Association needs a new
ambulance and would like Juab County Commissioners to
order it before December 2002.
Ann Coombs and Chris Neilsen, officers in the
association, asked commissioners to consider the move to
help the association to up-date and keep up with the
strides made in medical equipment available to emergency
medical care in the past few years.
"Cost for the ambulance will be approximately
$100,000," said Coombs.
That is not for the top-of-the line vehicle, either,
she said. It is for the basic ambulance package.
Ephraim City ambulance crew, for example, recently
purchased a state of-the art vehicle which is the envy of
all emergency medical technicians. The Juab ambulance
will not be like that.
"We would like to get a larger cab," said Neilsen.
There is not always as much travelling room for crew
members as there needs to be and, at times, crew members
have had to sit on the floor as the crew travels to
provide emergency medical care.
The state has mandated that all those who provide
emergency medical care met new and even more stringent
requirements as far as training and equipment is
concerned.
For example, there is a machine now available to help
those who are using pace-makers to have a boost in power
or to keep the heart working if the pace-maker fails or
is not powerful enough.
All new equipment requires more training, of course,
but ambulances are also required to have proper
equipment, in addition to training.
It is necessary to keep up-dating the vehicles as well
as the equipment housed inside. Like all vehicles, motors
wear out, age and need to be replaced.
"What price can you place on a human life?" said
Joseph Bernini, commissioner.
Another need, said Coombs, was for commissioners to
consider locating property and building a new ambulance
shed. The facility needed to provide shelter for the
ambulances, equipment, and to provide room for a washer
and dryer and for large meeting room.
