Staff writer
Since April, there have been six accidents at the intersection of U.S.-56/77/K-150 with 24 people being taken to hospitals.
Marion County Emergency Medical Services Director Steven Smith made the announcement Monday to Marion County Commission. He said he compiled that information after reading a story about the dangerous intersection this past week’s Marion County Record.
There were 103 ambulance runs in September, bringing the total number so far for the year to 848. Total calls in 2007 were 915. Smith said he believes the number of ambulance runs will surpass the highest number recorded for a year, 1,007 in 2005.
Of those calls in September, there were 30 in Hillsboro, 27 in Marion, 20 in Peabody, 15 in Florence, and seven in Tampa. Marion back-up ambulance was called out four times.
There were 29 no transports, 22 medical emergencies, 17 transfers, 10 cardiac, eight each standby and falls, six motor vehicle accidents, two other, and one turn back.
Goessel first responders answered five calls and Lincolnville had one.
Marion rescue had three runs and Florence had one.
In other business:
- Eleven students started the EMT class in September but now there are 10. Of those, seven are from Marion, and one each from Burns, Peabody, and Lincolnville.
- Education incentive grants have been awarded to the county to pay for the training of the EMS students.
- Smith said he talked with county fire chiefs regarding the use of county rescue trucks. It was decided to allow fire departments to manage rescue trucks. Currently there are two rescue units, in Marion and Florence. Smith said he is looking at ways of providing rescue vehicles in other parts of the county.
- The commission approved quarterly write-off of unpaid accounts for $1,255.
- A new ambulance for Hillsboro has been ordered and will be delivered in late October or early November. Hillsboro’s old unit will come to Marion as a back-up and Marion’s back-up unit will be used as a trade-in for the new one.