By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
The Carter County ambulance service saw another uptick in overdose-related calls as the year wrapped up, according to a report from executive director Rick Loperfido. Loperfido’s December report, presented last month at the regular meeting of the emergency ambulance board, noted, “many of our calls are again overdose-related.”
The uptick started in September of last year, when the total number of overdose calls grew from seven – in August – to ten. By October they’d nearly doubled, to 18, before falling off slightly to 16 in November, with another 16 in December. Though they’d dropped back down to 12 by January, that was still nearly double the rate six months earlier. In total, the ambulance service has responded to 81 overdose calls over the last 180 days, with two reported already in the first week of February, according to data shared by Loperfido.
While as a percentage of overall calls it’s a small number, it still amounts to an average of four or more overdose-related calls per week at the peak of the activity. That’s significant enough for the ambulance service to take notice, though they aren’t sure exactly what triggered the uptick in calls.
“We cannot say for certain what drug is causing most of the overdoses,” Loperfido said. “We have seen a lot of fentanyl, but we have seen some heroin overdoses as well.”
“It’s probably a mixed assortment of narcotics,” he added, noting that all illicit drugs are dangerous and that concentrations of drugs can vary from batch to batch.
Loperfido also reported an uptick in COVID-related responses, and that calls from individuals requiring assistance with falls, and then refusing transport, still make up a significant number of their calls.
In other action, the director reported that the service was down a couple of trucks over the previous month. One truck was in the garage for repairs, while another was, “down temporarily due to some minor engine issues.”
The ambulance service had recently added two new vehicles to their fleet, which should have allowed them to absorb these issues without an impact to service. However, after receiving the two new vehicles the ambulance service encountered a few issues that needed to be addressed before they could be placed in service. The cost of those repairs are will “mostly” be covered by the vendor the trucks were purchased from, Loperfido reported.
“Plans are to have the newest ambulances… inspected by the KBEMS on our annual inspection,” Loperfido said, with one of the new vehicles staged in Grayson and the other in Olive Hill.
It isn’t just the trucks giving the service issues. After getting it repaired last year, the ambulance service’s oxygen refill system is down once more. The compressor is being sent back to manufacturer, RIX, for repairs yet again. In the meantime, Loperfido said, they’ve been leaning on Cabell Huntington EMS for refill assistance. In the event that Cabell Huntington’s system is down – as it will be for an upcoming planned maintenance – the service has reached out to Tri-State Oxygen to negotiate a price for refilling backup canisters.
It’s becoming increasingly obvious, though, that the ambulance service needs a new oxygen refill system. To that end, Loperfido said, he and Valerie Nolan are working with judge-executive Mike Malone on the possibility of obtaining funds through the American Recovery Act to purchase a new oxygen refill system. The ambulance service is also seeking funds to purchase new radios and to offset losses related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Loperfido said all of those expenses should qualify for recovery act funds with fiscal court support.
It hasn’t all been expenses and breakdowns for the service. Loperfido also reported a $2,500 grant from the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) for addressing safety concerns. Loperfido says the service will use the money to fund an emergency drivers training course for all crew members in the coming months.
Loperfido also reported a raise for all EMTs and paramedics. He approved a five percent raise in early January, the second five percent raise he has approved since taking over as executive director. He said this places the services starting wages in a range that is more competitive when compared to other ambulance services in the region. He said this is important to retaining their staff now that they are at full capacity.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
