No longer will Pea Ridge emergency personnel have to call for an ambulance from Rogers or Bentonville when faced with a patient who needs drugs or other medical intervention. Pea Ridge Ambulance was approved as an advanced life support ambulance by the State Department of Health on Tuesday, April 1. The ALS sticker was applied Tuesday by Capt. Dustin McDonald.
"He has put in a lot of hours," Fire Chief Jamie Baggett said of McDonald. "He's dealt with the vendors, helped hire paramedics. He's been my go-to man on this."
McDonald is a full-time firefighter/paramedic on the Springdale Fire Department and works part-time for Pea Ridge.
"It's been a long time in the making. Frank (former Fire Chief Frank Rizzio) started the process. He wanted this. He pushed for this," Baggett said.
"It's great for the citizens. It will give them the care they need," McDonald said.
State Senator Cecile Bledsoe gave the city a $43,500 grant to help fund the program in January.
With ALS, there will be a paramedic on staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
On Tuesday, just one week after receiving the license, Pea Ridge Ambulance was called to a scene requiring ALS care, Baggett said.
Pea Ridge ambulance did keep the basic life support license as well, Baggett said, but state regulations require ALS to run first. ALS charges begin the minute ALS equipment or drugs are used, he said.
McDonald explained that the Stryker power cot helps the emergency personnel by preventing back sprains and strains. He said using it in Springdale has dramatically decreased back injuries in emergency personnel.
The department does have a mutual aid agreement with neighboring cities and can call upon another ambulance when situations warrant, as when there is more than one critical patient, Baggett said.
General News on 04/09/2014