COVID update for Galena EMS board: Call volumes pick up for agency, PPE stock is in ‘pretty good shape’

GALENA–EMS coordinator Bill Bingham updated members of the Galena Area EMS District Board about the service’s response to COVID at its Thursday, May 28 meeting.

“Since the April meeting, we haven’t had any additional problems as a result of COVID-19,” said Bingham.

Bingham said a few members were tested last month due to a possible exposure, but all tests returned with a negative result.

“We haven’t had any problems subsequent to that,” said Bingham. “One of the things we continue to focus on is personal protective equipment (PPE).”

Bingham said he has had discussions with his crews about the importance of properly wearing PPE while on the scene.

“Our call schedules have diminished over the past two months,” said Bingham. “Somewhere between four and six members have stopped responding with us over the past two months due to the pandemic. Some of these folks have family issues to deal with and others are respecting a family request, which is certainly understandable.”

Bingham said people have different attitudes when it comes to COVID.

“The down side is that the number of people that are getting the job done has been minimized,” said Bingham. “It has created some problems for us over the last few weeks. It becomes very challenging when you go through the struggle of having to remind everyone that we need coverage for a three-person crew. It is taking a toll on some of us. We just have to deal with it and see what we come up with.”

Bingham said Galena EMS is continuing to purchase PPE and has no issues with securing enough PPE. Chuck Pedersen, Jo Daviess County Emergency Management director, has been supplying Galena EMS monthly.

“Our stock is in pretty good shape right now,” said Bingham. “We are continuing to beef that up. Our strategy is to focus on having a supply for eight months out. It could be longer than that, but that is how we are focusing on it and gathering everything we need. There is no reason that no member of this organization should go into a situation without PPE. We have everything that is required.”

The call volume, which was down during the first two months of the pandemic, has rebounded to 50 percent of pre-COVID-19 call volume.

“Calls are starting to pick up a little bit now,” said Bingham. “For a while there, we would go a couple days without a call. Now, we are getting back to where we have a call a couple times a day. Now with what is happening in downtown Galena, I think our numbers will go up over the course of the next month.”

Another change has been the law enforcement’s response to ambulance calls due to COVID.

“In the past, we have been able to rely on law enforcement, the one thing that we noticed right away when this all started was that they started to stand down a bit,” said Bingham. “I was informed by one of the police officers at a Galena response that the officers would respond to calls but not engage, unless they are needed. That is perfectly okay. The one issue I have with all of this is that this is the second time this has happened with other agencies we have relied on and never got a phone call on what was happening.

“We find these things out when we get to the call. I think there is some kind of gap in communication between the proper safety agencies in the area. I don’t think it is a big deal, but one of the calls I was scratching my head wondering why no one was getting out of the car and doing anything. The fact of the matter is that a decision was made by that jurisdiction, but no one informed us of that.”

Bingham said that if they need help, they are willing to help.

“It would be nice if we could communicate better as public safety agencies so that we knew what was going on,” said Bingham.

Bingham said MercyHealth is continuing to provide continuing education units (CEU) to Galena EMS members. The CEUs are delivered electronically. Recently, 24 members of Galena EMS completed a CEU on chest trauma.

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Thanking Bingham

Bingham recently completed his first year as full-time Galena EMS coordinator for the agency.

The board of directors thanked Bingham for the work he has put in to turn the service around during the past several months.

“I thank you for guiding us to where we are now,” said Claire Bersbach, Galena EMS District board secretary. “There has been a lot of hours and headaches. Thank you.”

Board president Ben Petitgout echoed Bersbach’s sentiments.

“I think the association has seen major improvements over the past 12 months and I feel very confident in Bill and Aishah (Abdul-Aziz)’s leadership and to see it continue to improve,” said Petitgout.

 

Other business

In other business, the board:

•learned that MercyHealth provided certificates to members of Galena EMS for their years of service to the agency.

Those recognized include: Aishah Abdul-Aziz, five years; Ruth Foley, 30 years; Devin Halstead, 15 years; Brandon Kieffer, 15 years and Dave Teply, 15 years.

•decommissioned a 2003 Ford ambulance. The board voted to begin the process of selling the vehicle.

•approved Wayne Moyer to serve as Galena EMS’s fleet manager. This position was recently created and will receive a monthly stipend.

•approved the increase of a monthly stipend for Abdul-Aziz, who serves as the agency’s administrative assistant.

•approved bonus pay for personnel who signed up for on-call hours for the month of April during COVID-19.

•closed out a line of credit with Illinois Bank and Trust.

•approved the purchase of an additional LUCAS (Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System) machine.