Local EMS workers are striving to stay on top of changing protocol in light of the heightened interest and concern over Ebloa, Russell Fire Chief…
Local EMS workers are striving to stay on top of changing protocol in light of the heightened interest and concern over Ebloa, Russell Fire Chief John Frazier told Russell Township Trustees at their Oct. 15 meeting.
“We’re in pretty good shape, but the guidelines are changing,” Frazier said. “The sky is not falling, but we’re heading into the flu season.”
Frazier said EMS workers are more vulnerable because they come in direct contact with sick patients who have flu-like symptoms, which are similar to early stages of the deadly Ebola virus.
“The EMS checklist is changing and we’re preparing for this as best we can,” he explained. “We’ve been trained in dealing with serious infectious diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS, but this is different.”
He said the symptoms for both the flu and Ebola include muscle aches, fever, a 101.5-degree temperature and congestion. Ebola sym-ptoms that differ include bruising and hemorrhaging, but those may occur in later stages of Ebola.
Frazier said he is more concerned about the flu, which can reduce his available part-time staff if his workers catch it.
Trustee Jim Mueller asked how the department could be affected by the Ebloa decontamination process.
Frazier explained it could take some equipment and instrumentation out of service while those are being cleaned.
“The Geauga Health Department is our lead on this,” Fraizer said. “We were just briefed by the Cleveland Clinic. The Geauga (County) Sheriff’s (Office) dispatch is changing its
protocol as calls come in.”
In other matters discussed at the meeting, the trustees approved spending $24,644 to upgrade 12 desktop computers and nine monitors in the police station.
The equipment, to be purchases from Bailey Communication, Inc., includes Windows 7 and Windows Office software, which is needed to access some law enforcement programs, said Police Chief Tim Carroll.
“Our current computers are seven to eight years old and keep freezing up,” Carroll said. “The computers in the cruisers were upgraded two years ago.”
The money is in the department’s budget, said Fiscal Officer Chuck Walder.
“They’ve anticipated needing to upgrade the equipment for the past two years,” Walder said.
The trustees approved joining the Ohio Public Entity Consortium Healthcare Cooperative, which under the Affordable Care Act will allow the township to save about $250,000 in market share taxes on healthcare insurance over the next three years.
Wader said most of the employee healthcare coverage will remain the same as it is now, including insurance carriers.
The trustees consolidated pest control services by approving a contract with Rugg Pest Management for about $125 per quarter.
Trustee Justin Madden said the township had been using several different companies.
Madden announced that voters in Russell Precincts A, B and C will vote at the Russell Town Hall 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4.
He also announced that used motor oil recycling will continue 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and Fridays through Oct. 31 at the road department garage, 15625 Chillicothe Road for Russell residents.
Halloween Trick or Treating hours will be 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.
