Marfa Ambulance Rescues Worker
At 9:15 this morning, Marfa EMS got a call about an injured construction worker at a house on Austin Street. A cinder block wall fell on a man as work was being done nearby. Fortunately, Bert Lagarde was on duty today; no EMS has been on duty since Sunday. Bert went into city hall and asked for a driver for the ambulance. Mr. Sauceda went with Bert and drove the ambulance to the scene. Other responders included the Police, the Marfa VFD, a Deputy Sheriff and a volunteer EMT. The man was seriously injured and immobilized. First aid was given, and he was transported to the hospital in Alpine with Bert providing emergency care and a VFD driver.
I had informed Mr. Sauceda last night about the variance being granted by Austin. Kathy Perkins also emailed the Marfa EMS at 7:28 PM last night to grant the variance. She is an Assistant Commissioner at TDHS. So Bert would have seen the variance when he reported to work this morning before the 911 call. Without the variance, he would have responded in a city car and waited for an ambulance from Fort Davis or Presidio. Here is a copy of that email:
Just in the nick of time. If you have the opportunity, send thanks to Pete Gallego and his office for taking care of Marfans in the 74th District.
Now let's take a serious look at staffing and compensation issues for the EMTs that serve Marfa.
I had informed Mr. Sauceda last night about the variance being granted by Austin. Kathy Perkins also emailed the Marfa EMS at 7:28 PM last night to grant the variance. She is an Assistant Commissioner at TDHS. So Bert would have seen the variance when he reported to work this morning before the 911 call. Without the variance, he would have responded in a city car and waited for an ambulance from Fort Davis or Presidio. Here is a copy of that email:
- From: Perkins, Kathy [mailto:Kathy.Perkins@dshs.state.tx.us]
Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2006 7:28 PM
To: marfaems@yahoo.com
Cc: Guerrero, Raul; Veal, Kevin; Posada, Fernando; Jakovich, Derek; Bishop, Maxie; Katherine Frolow; Curry, Nick
Subject: Variance request approved
George LaGarde
Administrator
Marfa EMS
Mr. LaGarde,
Your request for a personnel variance to utilize one certified EMS person and a non-certified driver is approved and effective immediately. The formal paperwork is being processed and a letter will follow in the next week.
We apologize for the delay in response. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Kathryn C. Perkins, RN, MBA
Assistant Commissioner
Division for Regulatory Services
Texas Department of State Health Services
Phone: 512/834-6740
Fax: 512/834-6736
Just in the nick of time. If you have the opportunity, send thanks to Pete Gallego and his office for taking care of Marfans in the 74th District.
Now let's take a serious look at staffing and compensation issues for the EMTs that serve Marfa.
posted by RobC at 11:56 AM
9 Comments:
Now maybe the Council will tear into the budget properly, so EMS is not pushed aside again.
One would hope. Instead, F+D are telling department heads to cut budgets and find more revenue. Meanwhile, they claim admin doesn't need cuts.
At the first department head meeting this week, David blamed the "malcontents" for stopping the budget. At the second meeting, he blamed the missing council members. NEVER has he taken responsibility. What kind of man blames others when the budget is HIS responsibility? David was not present at department head meetings as budget officer until AFTER the deadline for passing a budget. Go figure.
That reminds me of a saying from a smart-ass coworker a long time ago. I never liked him or his saying, but here I am repeating it:
Figures never lie, but liars sometimes figure.
What was Flo's response to acquiring the variance?
I hear another ambulance siren...at least two runs today.
The Marfa EMS made another run Thursday afternoon. This time the Mayor drove. ENOUGH ALREADY! David and Flo you just don't understand. We don't want you to drive the ambulance! We want you to lead, plan, organize, staff and fund our EMS so that we can have professionals doing their job, not two-bit political hacks seeking a bit of recognition for pitching in to fix a problem that was created by their incompetence in the first place. Oh the frustration of it all. I don't even know how these two manage to get themselves out of bed and dressed in the morning.
Stay out of the ambulance you amateurs. You have done enough damage to EMS already. We have a VFD that is trained and skilled at emergency vehicle operation. The last thing we need is an amateur at the wheel. We want you to fix the problem not be part of the problem.
Mad as hell.
I happen to know that the fire chief has scheduled training on ambulance driving for his guys. Talk about grandstanding on the part of F&D! I thought the Mayor only knew how to ride a bike.
There were three ambulance runs yesterday. Not bad for the first day of the variance.
Has Flo abandoned Chinati weekend for his pilgrimage home yet? He is so civic minded!
I hear he is staying in town. Remember, there is a free meal on Highland Saturday night. Coincidence?
Off subject -- does anyone know who and how many citizens have applied to fill the vacancy on council? And is this item on the agenda for Tuesday nite?
Mayor driving the ambulance?
Below, please notice Certification form CDL-2, employee, volunteer firefighter. Under these circumstances would the mayor be covered by City insurance while driving the ambulance? I know, before anyone jumps on me here, overly picky, especially when someone's life is at stake. However the people of Marfa should be aware that the City may be accepting liability outside of it's insurance policy.
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/driver_licensing_control/dlindex.htm
Driver Handbooks Commercial Driver License
Who needs a Commercial Driver License?
All drivers who operate a commercial motor vehicle... The law does provide for some exemptions. If the driver meets one or more of the criteria listed below, he will not be required to have a CDL. However, the driver will be required to have a Class A, B, or C Non-CDL License.
Who is exempt from a CDL? (Certification form CDL-2
required)
Persons operating the following vehicles are exempt from a
Commercial Driver License:
1. A vehicle that is controlled and operated by a farmer;…..
2. A fire-fighting or emergency vehicle necessary to the
preservation of life or property or the execution of emergency
governmental functions, whether operated by an employee of a political subdivision or by a volunteer fire fighter (this includes operators of industrial emergency vehicles);
3. A military vehicle, when operated for military purposes….
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