Van Buren Ambulance Services Adding Needed Equipment

The Van Buren County Ambulance Services Department is looking to add equipment through a USDA grant.

Director Tiwanna Bricker said cardiac monitors, ultrasounds and nitrous oxide systems are needed. She said cardiac monitors have been a need for over two years, helping to identify heart attacks and controlling slow heart rates.

“The ultrasounds are just a very nice tool that would help us to find internal bleeding in the abdomen,” Bricker said. “It can also be used to find if there’s a pneumothorax, which is where the lung collapses.”

Bricker said the cardiac monitors will be purchased through a national bid contract. She said the remaining equipment will need to go out to bid, hopefully by next month’s county commission meeting.

“The cardiac monitors are just coming down to deciding between the two main names in the business which is Zoll and Lifepak and they can be purchased on a national bid contract,” Bricker said. “Where it’s been bid out and then put into a national bid contract. It’s called Public Safety Association Inc.”

Nitrous oxide systems in an ambulance provides pain management. Bricker said there would be a county match on the equipment.