(Posted June 12, 2016)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
The Madison County Emergency Medical District (EMD) provides on-site First Aid care during events at the Madison County Fairgrounds. By this year’s county fair, set for July 9-16, they hope to do so from a new building.
On June 6, EMD Chief Robert Olwin and EMD board member Bill Laney outlined their proposal to the county commissioners. They want to purchase a 12×26-foot pre-fabricated building to be placed at the fairgrounds near the grandstands. The estimated cost is $6,000. They asked the commissioners if they would consider paying part of the cost since the facility serves events geared toward the whole county.
“We would like to partner with you,” said Commissioner David Dhume.
While specifics weren’t settled at the meeting, Laney said the EMD board would like to evenly split the cost with the county.
Currently, EMD personnel work out of a room beneath the grandstands that many years ago served as the fairboard office. Part of the area has a dirt floor. Olwin and Laney said the conditions are not ideal for delivering medical care.
The new building would be more visible, provide easier access, have better lighting and come equipped with air conditioning.
Originally, the EMD board presented the senior fair board with the idea of placing a trailer on the grounds. As of the June 6 commissioners meeting, they had not returned to the fairboard with the building idea.
“If we work with the fair board, I think we can work something out. You need to talk with them for input,” said Commissioner David Dhume.
By law, the EMD is required to be on-site for certain types of events, such as fair week and truck and tractor pulls on the horse track. They provide crews on the track itself and in the First Aid station.
In recent years, the Madison County EMD, which serves the London area, has recruited emergency medical personnel from the Tri-County Joint Fire District in Mount Sterling and Jefferson Township Fire Department to staff the First Aid station during the fair. This allows for more coverage from a broader represen-tation of EMD professionals from around the county, Olwin said.
