By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com

Life Support Ambulance Service may be getting a little help with its emergency runs during times when the ambulance service is tied up.

During the December meeting of the Central Joint Ambulance District, Life Support Ambulance Service owner Tom Durbin spoke to the CJAD about a meeting that had transpired between Bucyrus administration members, as well as Fire Chief Jay Keller about using the city’s help when Life Support is over-encumbered with calls.

According to Durbin, during the meeting he noted that Keller is positive that the Bucyrus Fire Department is geared to act as a backup capacity for the ambulance district. Durbin noted that the city would be reimbursed $250 plus the cost of supplies for calls answered by the Bucyrus EMS group. The Bucyrus EMS group would then bill the patient that they took care of at the city’s rate.

Durbin added that in the meeting Bucyrus City Council President Sis Love felt that the city essentially already acts as back up, and might not need an MOU with the mutual aid agreement.

Durbin added that the Bucyrus EMS would be used when Life Support couldn’t be used. Durbin added that through the month of August there were 24 such calls for the year. Bucyrus EMS would include mutual aid across the county, while trying to work with other departments not in the vicinity of Bucyrus.

CJAD Bucyrus representative Steve Pifer noted that the Bucyrus EMS proposal would be going through Health and Safety Committee Thursday before going to City Council for approval if needed.

While the thought of Bucyrus being able to charge a rate that isn’t the same as Life Support didn’t sit well with a few members of the CJAD, the district would have to negotiate mutual aid contracts or the aid would be able to charge whatever rate they chose.

Depending on the timing of Bucyrus’ approval, Bucyrus could begin providing backup service to Life Support as early as the first council meeting in January.

In Jesse Sipes’ report to the CJAD Life Support received 211 9-1-1 calls for the month of November.

All time variances were approved by the CJAD.