By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the Aug. 26 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, Health Service Director Jotham Arber provided an update on the status of the county plan for first responders (also known as EMR or emergency medical responders), as a way to improve response and response timing for medical emergencies. He said since Panora and Stuart have ambulance services, the EMR plan is focusing especially on areas where ambulance response time may take longer. Arber said training for EMRs is set to begin.
“On Sept. 3, we’re going to hold our first EMR class through DMACC here in the county. I currently have six folks signed up,” Arber said. “I have one from Bagley, and I have three from Bayard. I have one from Guthrie Center, and I have one from the Panora area.”
Arber explained that EMRs are to provide basic life support services to stabilize a person in a medical emergency until a higher-level provider can take over. He said new EMRs would go through an orientation period.
“We’ll do a 90-day orientation with all responders that are coming on board with us before we let them out into the world,” Arber said.
Arber said EMRs need to clearly know what they can do — and, just as importantly, what they cannot do — while interacting on the scene of a medical emergency.
“They’re not going to transport anyone,” Arber said. “They’re going to arrive on the scene to do what they need to do with the backpacks.”
Arber also reported on the success of recent health fairs at local schools.
“We’ve done health fairs in Stuart, Panora and Audubon, and we’re going to do one in Guthrie Center Sept. 4,” Arber said. “In total, we have had 252 folks come through the doors between Panora and Stuart. We’ve done 19 haircuts. We’ve given out 79 backpacks. We’ve done 45 dental screenings, and we provided 310 meals.”
County Recorder Tristen Richard shared an update on operations in the recorder’s office. She discussed the various revenue sources for the department and where the funds go.
The supervisors approved the health service agreement between the county and the sheriff’s department (jail) as described by Arber. Supervisor Maggie Armstrong said she is eager to see the expected cost savings under the agreement.
As part of the consent agenda items, the supervisors approved a payroll change notice for Ryan Cline in the secondary roads department. Cline’s position changed from equipment operator I to engineering technician I effective Aug. 25. His former pay rate was $28.37 hourly and is now $31.02 hourly.
The supervisors meet regularly on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend in person or via remote technology. To join remotely, call 323-792-6123, then use meeting code 547029216#.