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Inspection ensures vehicles are road worthy, properly stocked with supplies

Jeffrey Alderton Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — Allegany and Garrett counties are benefiting from a voluntary ambulance inspection program that ensures that the vehicles are roadworthy and properly stocked with necessary medical supplies.

Developed jointly by the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems, the Maryland State Firemen’s Association and the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council, the Voluntary Ambulance Inspection Program verifies certification that ambulances have received from the Maryland Department of Transportation.

The program also includes “verification of supplies and equipment inventory necessary to adequately care for patients in pre-hospital setting,” said Lt. Vince Pyle, the emergency medical services officer for the Cumberland Fire Department who oversees the ambulance operation along with Lt. Mike Kerns.

The city’s ambulance fleet consists of a 2011 and 2007 International model, 2000 and 2001 Freightliner and a 1996 Ford that is the only four-wheel drive ambulance in the department.

Logging nearly 5,000 ambulance calls annually, the ambulances hardly get a rest and three of the vehicles have recorded mileage above 100,000 miles. Industry studies indicate ambulance services typically get six years of service out of a new vehicle. City ambulance crews typically handle 13 to 14 calls per day. Most ambulance calls in the city take an hour from the time of the alert to the time of return to service to be available for the next call.

Plenty of preparation precedes the ambulance check-ups.

“We get all our DOT inspections, do a pre-inventory on ambulance supplies and hopefully have everything in place when the inspection occurs. For our citizens, it gives them a sense of security that our units are up to the accepted standard of care and that their tax dollars are being utilized in an effective and efficient manner.

“Our citizens are investing in the Cumberland Fire Department with their tax dollars and we are ensuring they get a quality product in return,” he said.

Pyle credits Kerns with being his right-hand man but the credit doesn’t stop there. “We have a great group of guys and gals that work hard to provide the necessary patient care and get back in service as quickly as possible for the next call,” said Pyle.

The ambulance inspections are being performed by Dwayne Kitis, MIEMSS regional director, and John Herath, Allegany County’s EMS chief. Sometimes the inspections include MIEMSS inspectors from Baltimore as is the case with this month’s inspections.

Kitis said, “The Voluntary Ambulance Inspection Program is not necessarily a requirement by the state, just strongly suggested to satisfy the medical director’s review of equipment. Some jurisdictions create their own ambulance inspection process that reflects their area needs and are less stringent than the state process. Maryland gives a seal of excellence when an Advanced Life Support ambulance, ALS Chase unit, or a Basic Life Support First Response unit has passed the inspection process.

“Citizens in the area should be reassured that both Allegany and Garrett County’s EMS/Fire Departments participate in this program. The VAIP Seal of Excellence is good for two years, however Allegany and Garrett counties are inspected every year, which reduces the occurrence of restocking errors or equipment failure. All types of vehicles get certified. BLS units include: chief utility vehicles, brush units, first-response vehicles and heavy rescue vehicles; ALS units include ambulances, ALS chase vehicles and ALS fire engines.”

Last year, Kitis inspected 47 ambulance units in Allegany County and 17 in Garrett County through the program.

Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.

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