Approval needed to improve care | Letters | Oct. 23

Published 12:07 pm Friday, October 23, 2009

As an emergency physician and Bainbridge resident, I urge my neighbors to help increase the safety of all Bainbridge islanders by voting “yes” on the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) levy.

The proposed measure will enable the fire department to hire the additional staff needed to improve response times in medical emergencies. This is vitally important in the care of trauma and cardiac arrest patients in whom survival rates correspond directly to timely provision of emergency medical care.

Currently only one of the three island stations is staffed by paramedics, making it difficult for a significant percentage of the residents to receive timely care when it counts. A yes vote will directly and positively impact the quality of emergency care provided to the citizens of Bainbridge Island by allowing staffing at all stations by emergency medical technicians.

Martin Bennett, MD, FACEP

Medical Program director,

Kitsap County Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care Council