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Show Here To Stay? Paramedics Accpt$d THE LATTER, he noted, is becoming outdated. "There are already several "blackout areas" throughout the county, areas in which patrol pat-rol and emergency vehicles can not communicate with the dispatch center in Farming-ton," Farming-ton," the sheriff explained. "There are other fringe areas where radio communications are not adequate." HE SUGGESTED that a radio relay station be placed on Antelope Island. "This would solve our blackout problems and provide very good communications com-munications throughout the entire county," he said. The sheriff emphasized that Bountiful, Layton and Clearfield Clear-field continue to have their own police dispatch systems but that there be an improved communications between the cities and in fringe areas where radio reception is not adequate. adequ-ate. He also suggested that the county come under a county-wide county-wide 911 emergency system. "THERE ARE areas in south Davis County where callers cal-lers dialing 91 1 are dispatched to Salt Lake City, Bountiful, or the county (sheriffs department) depart-ment) and emergency service is delayed because the call has to be transferred," he said. "I'd like to see an expert come in and evaluate all of Davis County's public safety program and make recommendations," recommen-dations," he said. THE COUNTY paramedic program is now under the supervision su-pervision of Lt. Bert Hol-brook, Hol-brook, who, until recently, was supervisor of the new jail complex. Previously, Lt. Bob Peters directed the department's depart-ment's paramedics program. By GARY R. BLODGETT FARMINGTON Davis County paramedics program has "found its nitch" in the community, but operation and maintenance costs still pose a serious problem to the continuance con-tinuance of their work. SHERIFF BRANT Johnson said he "feels real good about the paramedics program and the job they have accomplished accom-plished in recent years. "I believe that the paramedics para-medics program has been accepted in the community," said Sheriff Johnson. "People now realize the job that paramedics para-medics are doing to save lives and help the injured." HE EMPHASIZED that support sup-port for the paramedics has been overwhelming in recent years. "As far as I'm concerned, con-cerned, the paramedics program prog-ram is here to stay." The question of the continuance con-tinuance of the paramedics program has been brought to light because of the tight economy, eco-nomy, the sheriff explained. County commissioners have expressed earlier that "they are not fighting the paramedics program but that it was getting so expensive that alternative measures may have to be taken." COM. GERLACH noted that the paramedics program is among the most expensive services ser-vices offered by the county, "but is important to the physical phy-sical well-being of our community." com-munity." Sheriff Johnson explained the paramedics as providing a service that can not be duplicated dupli-cated by the public. "To me, their efforts are unequaled by anyone in the county and the service is absolutely essential," essen-tial," he emphasized. THE SHERIFF noted that the two units of paramedics Rescue 14 in north Davis County and Rescue 15 in south Davis County averages nearly near-ly 250 emergency calls per month. "There's no way of knowing . just how many lives are saved or number of injuries minimized mini-mized because of quick paramedic para-medic action," said Sheriff Johnson. A BID WAS accepted last week by the County Commission Commis-sion for a new paramedic truck. Sheriff Johnson said the unit had nearly 100,000 miles and will be used as a backup unit when one of the regular trucks is down for repairs. He said medical calls account for 20 to 25 percent of the paramedics' total time on the road. The remainder of the time is spent on traffic patrol, criminal investigations and backup of law enforcement agencies in the county. THE SHERIFF explained that at least one paramedic and one person certified in Emergency medical Training (EMT) is on duty with each vehicle. "We are striving to qualify every deputy in the program as a paramedic but this takes time," the sheriff said. He explained ex-plained that each paramedic must undergo six months of intensive in-tensive training to be certified as a paramedic. "NOT ONLY are these men trained in emergency medical procedures, but they must complete an extensive course in all aspects of law enforcement, enforce-ment, including search and rescue, hostage situations, etc. Sheriff Johnson said he is preparing a ten year program in law enforcement which will include a countywide emergency disaster plan and a countywide communications system. |