Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

Colerain reviews medical emergency response times
BY MARCELLA PEYRE-FERRY, Correspondent

Colerain Township supervisors are not sure they want to train the township road crew to respond to medical emergencies, but they do think a class for interested residents might be a good idea.

During the Jan. 16 board meeting, supervisor Walter Todd gave a report of the latest Southern Lancaster County Intermunicipal Council meeting, where there was a presentation about medical emergency response times.

Statistics provided at that meeting showed that the response time for an ambulance or emergency medical technician in Colerain was less than 10 minutes in 23.6 percent of the calls.

The best response time for townships in the southern end was in Bart, where 93.9 percent of the calls beat the 10-minute mark.

At the other end of the scale was Little Britain, where 12.7 percent of the callers were reached in less than 10 minutes.

In heart attack cases particularly, a fast response time is important, and Lancaster EMS is suggesting that rural townships could make a difference for their residents if township personnel were trained in the use of automated defibrillators and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Todd was sympathetic to the proposal's intent but does not see it as practical. Instead, the board is open to the idea of a free CPR or similar course for residents who would like to take one.

"That would be an alternative that would be a benefit to the community," Todd said. No course is being offered at this time, but the board is willing to hear suggestions.

The board did vote to allow the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to hold a workshop at the township building in February. Once a date is set, it will be posted around the community.

The event is designed for farm owners, and includes information on grant and funding opportunities for conservation projects as well as practical methods for preserving stream banks, stopping erosion and improving water quality.

In other business, the board agreed to increase the fee for a zoning hearing from $500 to $750, with an additional $250 per hour if a hearing exceeds one hour.

The change is being made to help cover the actual cost of the hearings, which includes solicitor and court reporter fees as well as advertising and secretary services.

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