County ambulance, fire department reports for Jan. 30
MOUND CITY – On Monday, Jan. 30, the Linn County Commissioners heard weekly reports from the fire and ambulance services.
Linn County Fire Chief Randy Hegwald to the commissioners that the local emergency planning committee (LEPC) meeting had been held last Thursday and things went well. The presentation was given by Evergy about the F500 trailer which they are donating to Linn County Rural Fire and how it would be an asset to the community.
Hegwald reported that a committee who is working on creating a First Responder’s Memorial on the courthouse grounds met last Saturday. He asked if one of the commissioners would serve on that committee. It will be made up of law enforcement, fire and emergency services. The meetings will probably be during the evening.
Hegwald told the commissioners that the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes sponsored by the emergency management services were held Saturday, Jan. 28, and even though all 40 spots had been booked, only 28 people showed up.
Hegwald said that other community classes were planned for the future from the National Weather Service and Evergy.
Hegwald’s report for the last week was four incidents making a total of 28 for the year. The incidents were two medical assists, one brush or brush-and-grass mixture fire and one grass fire.
Galen Anderson, operations manager for American Medical Response (AMR), reported that the past week had been a slow week with only ten transports and the total for January so far had been 58.
Commissioner Danny McCullough asked if AMR took entry level young people with no experience. Anderson said that for any students that are enrolled in an emergency medical technician (EMT) program at a community college or some other programs, AMR can do an affiliation with that school for them to do ride-alongs. AMR is working on one now the Fort Scott Community College and they will be able to do ride-alongs in the county.
That is the first point of access for prospective EMTs. As far as like working on an ambulance in the state of Kansas, you have to have a licensed EMT or paramedic.