County EMS reports increased calls, ambulance equipment issue and renews AED guidance

An EMS representative, identified in the meeting transcript as Brady, briefed supervisors on recent operations and equipment guidance.

Brady said the service responded to roughly 110 calls last month and recounted a mechanical incident in which two tires fell off an ambulance while returning from a call; no patients or crew were hurt. "They said the tires fell off the ambulance," Brady said when describing the call, and he said insurance and the vehicle vendor were engaged to address body and repair work.

Brady also walked the board through AED (automated external defibrillator) use for lay rescuers, describing the device prompts and stressing that modern public training emphasizes chest compressions if rescuers are unwilling or unable to perform rescue breaths. "Doing nothing is pretty much a 100% fatal in this situation," Brady said, urging bystanders to act. He noted AED pads must be replaced after use because the adhesive gel expires; county AEDs use the same pads as field units, allowing quick pad swaps to return devices to service.

Supervisors asked about spare pads, unit expiration and pacemaker placement. Brady advised rescuers to avoid placing pads directly over implanted pacemakers, and said most AEDs will only deliver shock for ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. He encouraged public CPR training and said EMS is coordinating AED siting and maintenance with community partners.