News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Upper Cumberland’s AmbuBus usually sits silent at the Putnam County Emergency Management Services building, waiting to be used.
However, Putnam EMS Director Tommy Copeland says the bus is prepared for large-scale events at a moment’s notice.
“If any of the other Upper Cumberland counties need it, all they have to do is call,” Copeland says. “We’ve been on standby to take it to hurricane regions a couple of times, but we’ve not had to actually respond with it. If we need it for a fire response or like the Fall FunFest in Cookeville, or something like that, then we can deploy it with our personnel.”
Copeland says the Upper Cumberland AmbuBus is one of eight across Tennessee given to each major region in the case of a mass-casualty situation.
While that is one of its purposes, Copeland says the bus can be used locally during large-scale fire responses.
“We have used it several times – at least three or four times – for fire rehabilitation,” Copeland says. “If you have a large working fire and the firemen need somewhere to rest, re-hydrate, or need to be medically checked out, then we’ve taken it to do that.”
Copeland says the Upper Cumberland Health Care Coalition and the Upper Cumberland Emergency Directors Association have helped make the bus what it is today. The agencies remodeled the bus after it was purchased by the state to accommodate 12 total patients with room for up to eight stretchers.
Overton County’s commission will soon look into signing an agreement passed by the public safety committee agreeing to terms on the bus, saying the county will be responsible for costs and supplies when they use it.
“Any county that has signed that memorandum of understanding agreement, then they will be able to come and borrow the bus,” Copeland says, “take it and use it for a fire rehab, take it for any major event like a county fair, street festival, or whatever.”
Copeland says the AmbuBus has not been used for any major casualty events in the Upper Cumberland. All 14 Upper Cumberland counties have access to the bus if needed.
