Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 30, 1995 TAG: 9508300043
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Otherwise, the time could come when an emergency call goes unanswered.
County Emergency Services Coordinator Stan Crigger told the Board of Supervisors Monday night that an unanswered call is a real possibility because fewer rescue squad volunteers are available during daytime hours.
That was why Pulaski County and the towns of Pulaski and Dublin commissioned Fitch & Associates, a Missouri-based medical transportation firm, to study emergency medical services in the county and make recommendations to improve them.
The first of those recommendations was to combine the New River Valley Rescue Squad and Pulaski County Lifesaving Crew. Crigger said members of both organizations rejected that, wanting to preserve their organizations and their histories of some four decades.
Other recommendations mentioned in the June report included maintaining volunteers as part of any new emergency medical services program, establishing a base station in Pulaski and Dublin, and seeking funding assistance from Pulaski Community Hospital and Radford Community Hospital.
As an interim step, a committee studying the report recommended a six-month temporary program with four paid employees to provide emergency services weekdays from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Volunteers would continue providing services at other hours.
The estimated cost is $10,000 a month. The supervisors want to find out quickly how much financial help the hospitals might provide.
"We do not want to discourage the volunteers," Crigger said. "We want the volunteers to stay aboard." Representatives of the two volunteer organizations are part of the committee studying the Fitch plan.
"We've been blessed by having some very talented volunteers," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jerry White, adding that he wants that blessing to continue.
The supervisors formally accepted the Fitch report, and agreed to the six-month program.
"If we take the first step, we are making a commitment," Supervisor Bruce Fariss said. "For my part, I'm in favor of it."
In other business, Bill Manning, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1184, presented the board with a print of the Pulaski County War Memorial. The memorial was dedicated July 4.
Members of the VFW Post will sell copies of the print for $5 each to raise money to buy service branch flags for the memorial and contribute toward its upkeep. Copies will be available at Premiere Bank in Pulaski, the VFW Post or from any VFW member.
Copies of videos of the memorial dedication eventually will be offered for sale to the public as well.
by CNB