Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: I was at the Kamehameha Schools hoolaulea, a private function at the Bishop Museum, and witnessed city Emergency Medical Service Go-4 vehicles being used for emergency care along with a private ambulance operated by American Medical Response. I found it strange that a city vehicle and personnel were at a private function when a private provider was there. The paramedic told me he was assigned to be there and did not have any other information. I was also told that the private provider was usually hired to provide medical services for private or state functions and that it was unusual to have a city EMS vehicle there. I called the city EMS office and spoke to assistant chief Donald Gates who told me that it was the city's discretion as to when to utilize these vehicles. How does the city determine when the use of these vehicles for private functions is warranted? If I were to have a function for a couple thousand people, could I utilize the Go-4s for medical services rather than hire a private company? Who paid for this service? Was it taxpayer money? Was the paramedic I saw on overtime? Who foots the
city’s bill for serving
private events?Answer: The city normally does not provide such services for private events, although, of course, it would respond to an emergency, said Donnie Gates, assistant chief of operations for the city Emergency Medical Services Division.
However, under certain circumstances (such as a non-profit event) and where large groups of people are involved, such services are provided as a more efficient way of dealing with potential medical emergencies, he said. That's opposed to just responding when called.
That was the case for the March 3 hoolaulea you refer to, which attracted up to 3,000 people, Gates said.
The paramedic on duty tended to 23 people with minor complaints, he said, while a call was made for an EMS vehicle to transport a person with an allergic reaction to a hospital.
Since American Medical Response has the city contract for backup services, it handled the transport, Gates said. AMR did not have an ambulance standing by on site that day, he said.
By having the Go-4 and paramedic in place, "we were able to handle the cases without calling for additional resources," Gates said. This allowed other EMS units to be more readily available to handle emergencies in their areas, he said.
He said EMS costs that day were covered through the contract the city has with the state to provide emergency medical services. The paramedic was paid 1.5 hours of overtime.
As for the Go-4s, most people are familiar with them as the three-wheeled blue-and-white vehicles used by the Honolulu Police Department.
When EMS learned that HPD planned to retire some of them, it asked to take over the vehicles. HPD responded by providing four Go-4s, which an EMS vehicle inspector volunteered to refurbish and make ready for emergency medical use, Gates said.
They are particularly valuable during mass gatherings, he said.
In the past, responding to the sick and injured at mass gatherings, such as parades and hoolauleas, was "sometimes very difficult," Gates said. "With the Go 4s, response times are much improved."
Auwe
I am retired military. I've got an up-to-date military decal on my car, so why can't I proceed onto the base to go to the PX and commissary. At Fort Shafter and at the U.S. Coast Guard at Red Hill they won't let us in. Something should be done. - No Name(Under the heightened security precautions prompted by Tuesday's terrorist attacks against the United States, you must have a valid Department of Defense picture ID, said Army spokeswoman Amy Alie. Simply having the vehicle sticker is not acceptable. As Alie points out, "Anybody can steal your car." As a military retiree, you should be able to obtain a DOD ID, she said.)
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