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04/11/2006: "San Juan Island EMS Recipient 60 Glucometers"

San Juan Island EMS has once again increased its capability to respond to emergencies here on the island with the help of the San Juan Lions Foundation for Sight and Hearing.

Last week when the Lion's Club Health Screening Unit was on island, the San Juan Lions donated 60 new blood glucose monitors to EMS. This enables all of the 40 EMTs to have a personal blood glucose monitor in their First Responder packs. Chief Jim Cole said, "This allows every EMT to diagnose and treat diabetics before the ambulance or paramedics arrive. This is part of our 5 year strategic goal of allowing more life saving interventions to arrive within 2 minutes of every call for help." They are also raising funds for an additional 32 AED units to be carried by EMTs by 2010. The cost of each unit is approximately $2,500. Due to recent Federal spending cuts in rural health and EMS, grants for this equipment will be unlikely.

EMS personnel and the Board of Commissioners want to thank the San Juan Lions for their expensive and timely donation to saving lives here on San Juan Island.