Genesee
County 9-1-1 may improve local EMS
April 21, 2010
April 21, 2010 -
Local EMS may realize some improvements in Atlas Township.
Lloyd Fayling, 9-1-1 director for Genesee County, said within a year
a new mode of EMS dispatch could be in place that could speed
service to the southeastern regions of the county.
Under the new plan, each ambulance that wishes to participate will
be required to have an 800 MHz radio along with an automatic vehicle
locator (AVL) in each unit. Currently 13 ambulance companies with 36
units are active in Genesee County.
Currently in Atlas Township the closest ambulance services are
available in Grand Blanc, Davison and Groveland Township.
Fayling said Genesee County has invested $13 million into the radio
base that uses the AVL, similar to GPS, which can update central
dispatch every quarter mile the location of a unit.
"One of the greatest expenses for ambulance companies is setting up
and establishing a home base for operations," said Fayling. "While
there may be some initial expenses to get started, the new system
will be far less costly. Each ambulance will then receive the call
and have a map on a computer screen, similar to what police patrol
cars do now, to locate where the victim is located."
The current issue with 9-1-1 is that the EMS dispatcher uses
standard phones to contact the ambulance service.
"We are not in direct contact with the ambulance or even know their
availability," said Fayling.
"It's not uncommon to contact a half dozen bases using phone lines
to get an ambulance rolling to the victim. That means more time in
getting help in an emergency situation."
Under the new plan, 9-1-1 dispatchers will have a computerized map
to know where the ambulances are all the time.
"If the ambulances are on the move or stationary we can now get in
touch with the driver," said Fayling.
"Or, many times if the ambulance is transporting a patient out of
the area and are on their way back in, we'll know that too, or at a
hospital. Ultimately that will mean more in-service EMS than we have
now."
The biggest issue will be keeping the EMS spread out over the area
and not bunched up, added Fayling.
Atlas Township Fire Chief Fred Forys is pleased the county is making
progress.
"Right now EMS cannot roam more than one mile from their home base,"
said Forys. "Under the new plan the ambulances will be required to
stay spread out and be on street corners thought the county.
Ultimately they will do away with bases and can now park in Goodrich
or somewhere in Atlas Township."
Back to News
|
| Copyright Genesee County 911 Consortium 2007 |
|
News
9-1-1
Kids Corner
Home