The Harlem Fire Department is looking to purchase some supplies and equipment using leftover ARPA-SLFRF funds.
During the Harlem City Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 27, Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Stokes spoke to council members about the request and to answer questions.
Earlier this year the fire department was to spend $130,500 from ARPA-SLFRF funds to cover supplies, the purchase of extrication equipment and replacement of the bay floors at fire station 1 and 2, said City Manager Debra Moore. The quotes for the floors came in under the costs estimated by the department, so the department is requesting to use the remaining $7,500 to purchase medical supplies, equipment, and training.
“The entire purpose of this request basically was to help us make some changes to better provide care, provide service for anybody that requests us, or we’re requested to respond to by Gold Cross because there may be a delay of an ambulance,” Stokes said.
With this request, Stokes told council members the fire department is working to “bridge the gap” between what it’s been doing and things that can be improved on.
“Everything that we’re asking for falls into someone’s scope of practice as determined by the State Department of Health that we have on the roster currently,” Stokes said. “Whether it be a couple of us that are intermediate EMTs, the few that are EMT basics and the few that are what’s considered to be an EMR first responder, non-EMT, but a trained person.”
Stokes added that the equipment or medication will only be available to the people who fall under that certain scope of practice. An example given was administering IVs, which he said said there are three people on staff who could do it.
Mayor Roxanne Whitaker asked what the IVs. Stokes said the main reason they would run an IV is because someone had massive trauma and they are getting it set up for EMS or if they are responding to a call about severe low blood sugar and need to raise their blood sugar back up and they cannot take an oral tablet.
“We truly believe that everything we’re asking for is in the best interest of our citizens that are asking for assistance when they’re call 911,” Stokes said.
Council members took no action during the meeting.
