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Commissioner Fraley - To Appropriate Funds for New Ambulance Stretcher Retention Systems ($56,147 Fund Balance)
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STAFF CONTACT
Mark Lamphiear, Emergency Medical Services - 704.866.3202
BUDGET IMPACT
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Appropriates Fund Balance. One-time; not ongoing.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
Appropriates one-time fund balance money to purchase required ambulance stretcher retention systems.
BACKGROUND
At the present time, we have six replacement ambulances on order, one of which is an Advanced Life Support (ALS) unit, and five of which are Basic Life Support (BLS) units. Financing for FY 16 replacement ambulances was recently approved to order six additional replacement ALS units and one additional replacement BLS unit.
New SAE safety standards have recently come out regarding the retention of ambulance stretchers and crashworthiness. Stryker, the manufacturer of our ambulance stretchers, has had a very expensive power loading solution to these standards for several years. Stryker recently came out with a new safety-standard compliant, manual stretcher retention system.
The new ambulances will likely be in service for the next five years, so it is important to meet the new safety standards. Rather than retrofitting the remaining ambulances that are presently in service, we will update the stretcher retention systems when those trucks are replaced.
POLICY IMPACT
No policy impact.