Local EMS Unit Gains New Members
Glasscock County’s volunteer Emergency Medical Service has seven new people who have completed the Howard College training course, and will now sit for the state certification exam. If they all pass the exam, there will be 16 emergency medical technicians (EMT’s) serving the county, according to Christy Seidenberger, local EMS coordinator. Seidenberger gave a report to the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court at its regular meeting Feb. 9.
In 2008, the unit made 54 trauma runs, 29 medical runs and 1 transport run, Seidenberger said. She said Highway 158 is the location of most traumas to which the unit responds. The county has agreements with both Midland and Sterling Counties for mutual assistance when needed.
Seidenberger said she has received grant funding for a $14,000 automatic stretcher. She said an automatic stretcher is necessary since eight of the EMT’s are female, and sometimes are unable to lift standard stretchers carrying large patients. She reported that the hours for EMT’s recertification have been increased and the Regional Advisory Council (RAC) meetings she is required to attend annually have tripled to nine.
She said the local EMS unit is hosting a meeting in March at the community center that 50 to 60 people will attend.
She asked that the commissioners’ court soon complete the National Incident Management System (NIMS) training. County Judge Wilburn Bednar said it should have been done by the end of 2008. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke said the training is now mandatory for grant applications.
Seidenberger said the unit passed the state department of health’s inspection “with flying colors.” She also said she is very pleased with the unit’s new medical director, Dr. Scott Barclay, who is a general practitioner in Big Spring.