CHESTNUT - The Chestnut EMS unit was reinstated for service following an inspection at 9 a.m. today by the Springfield Area Mobile Intensive Care Emergency Medical Services department, a Chestnut EMS spokesman said today.

 

 

 

 

SAMIC EMS inspector Louie Rogers inspected Chestnut's only EMS rig and determined all the numerous violations he discovered during a surprise inspection Sept. 5 have been corrected, Chestnut EMS supervisor Roger Hayden said this morning.

During the September inspection, Rogers learned the recently modified tanker was not licensed for EMS service, that necessary records were unavailable and some equipment, such as bandages and sterilized water, was outdated or not included in the inventory.

According to Mount Pulaski Rural Fire District president Leslie "Foxie" Hild, the Chestnut rig officially returned to service at 11 a.m. today, following Rogers' inspection.

But because of a lack of personnel, the level of care provided by Chestnut medical responders has been downgraded from a basic life support service to a first-responder service, Hild said.

Hayden said the first-responder service is not much different than the basic life support service and the public likely will not even notice the change. The biggest difference, Hayden said, is that first-responders cannot administer medicines.