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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works August 10 20101 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL Public Works and Safety Committee August 10, 2010 CALL TO ORDER Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington. ROLL CALL (1:29:12 PM) Present: Barbara Brenner and Carl Weimer. Absent: Ken Mann. Also Present: Bill Knutzen and Sam Crawford. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 1. PRESENTATION ON THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY AIRLIFT NORTHWEST (AB2010 -304) Jeff Ritchie, Airlift Northwest, described his background. He submitted and read from a presentation (on file). They put all their money into the best medical equipment and aircraft. They are a mobile intensive care unit (ICU). They often go to Mt. Baker, especially during ski season. They don't do search and rescue, but will meet rescue staff. They will deliver a patient to any facility that the referring physician determines. They meet and exceed required education. They transfer patients between facilities and also go to certain emergency scenes. Updated night vision goggles give them the ability to get to very dark areas. (1:49:56 PM) For most patients within Whatcom County, it's no faster to dispatch air ambulance than a regular ambulance, other than Point Roberts and Lummi Island. They partner with other air ambulance services in the western United States for their air care program. Discussion included the life span of their helicopters; the location of their three aviation partners; owning versus leasing aircraft; the number of Whatcom County residents served by air ambulance, and; the types of weather in which they can fly. The following person spoke: Darlene Delboca, citizen, asked how many calls in Whatcom County they've not responded to because they were occupied. Ritchie stated there have been only two calls to which they didn't respond. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. Public Works and Safety Committee, 8/10/2010, Page 1 1 2 3 1 1 1 13 14 15 16 ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 2:02 p.m. Please contact the Council Office to obtain an official, signed copy: 360- 676 -6690 or council &o.w hatcom .wa.us Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair Public Works and Safety Committee, 8/10/2010, Page 2