Officials: Jump bags will aid responders in emergencies
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ALPENA -- Medical first responders will soon have some needed equipment to help them examine and treat people during medical emergencies.
On Tuesday, the Alpena Township Board of Trustees voted to purchase seven jump bags for paid on-call responders who are often the first on the scene of medical emergencies.
The cost for the seven bags will be $1,749.
A jump bag contains basic medical equipment to help responders record vital signs and assist with injuries and breathing issues.
Nobody in the department currently has jump bags, officials say.
Alpena Township Fire Chief Mark Hansen said making sure his staff has the tools it needs will lead to better outcomes in the field during emergencies.
"They will have everything needed to get the vitals, stop major trauma, and assist individuals who are having breathing issues," Hansen said. "They will have all the basic essentials so when they need so when they are first on the scene, they can start initial patient assistance."
Hansen said currently, paid-on-call employees don't have jump bags and don't have much gear when they arrive at the scene.
He said he is working to find a way for every employee at the department to have a jump bag.
But, Hansen said, that will take money, which has been hard to come by with tight budgets, price increases and limited availability.
"Obviously, I would like every individual in this department to have one, but we can't right now," Hansen said. "We didn't have the funding readily available, but it is my goal to make sure eventually all staff have the jump bags."
Hansen said having voters support an upcoming millage proposal for the fire department could help pave the way for purchasing more equipment for first responders.
Residents in Alpena Township will vote in August on a six-year, 3-mill property tax increase to rebuild and maintain the township fire department.
If the new fire millage passes, it would cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $150 a year.
Taxpayers already pay a 1.5-mill tax for firefighting, which costs the owner of a $100,000 house $75 a year.
The new fire millage would bring in about $1.1 million annually, while the older tax brings in about $565,000 a year.
A third fire tax for 0.65 mills that costs the owner of a $100,000 house about $32.50 a year will expire at the end of the year, but residents will have to pay it this year.