||| FROM JAMES BIDDICK for ORCAS LIONS CLUB |||
In the past the Lions Club has provided money to the fire department for purchase of the power lift gurneys and last year the Lions supported a community fundraiser for Mercy Flights. This year the Orcas Island Lions Club is excited to announce a fundraiser to purchase much needed medical equipment for Orcas Island Fire & Rescue. Regardless of your feelings about the current tax levy, this is a chance to help save some money for
the department and provide equipment to meet the community needs.
The Fire Department is in need of equipment upgrades for their video larynogoscopes which are currently 12 years old. Video laryngoscopes are a vital piece of equipment that our fire department paramedics use to place breathing tubes for patients who are unable to breath adequately on their own.
The fire department is currently using 12-year-old scopes which are at the end of their serviceable life without significant refurbishment and updating. OIFR researched the option of updating/refurbishing the current video laryngoscopes and found that replacement with newer devices was less expensive. All fire department paramedics participated in an evaluation process of current video laryngoscopes available for prehospital use and the decision was made to replace the current GlideScopes with the more compact and higher resolution OneScope.
Funds raised in this effort will be used to replace the current scopes and place the new OneScopes in service immediately. The new OneScope is small enough to be carried in the paramedic’s kits and has a larger screen with a higher resolution, improving the airway view for the paramedic placing the breathing tube.
The total cost for the OneScope purchase is approximately $8,000.00 with additional funds needed to purchase the disposable parts that are needed for each of the scopes use in the field and in training. The Lions Club is proud to join in this effort to support the community and the department. Through the month of December, the Lions Club will match up to $5,000.00 in community donations for the purchase of this much needed equipment to benefit all residents of Orcas Island. Donations should go to:
Orcas Island Lions Foundation
PO Box 1212
Eastsound, WA 98245
The Orcas Island Club Foundation is a 501(C3) organization which makes any donation tax deductible. OILF EIN: 31-1730975.
This warms my heart – a wonderful and generous gesture and a chance for many to help out. I hope the donations roll in. just think if we all donated even 5 or 10 dollars from the poorest people, and more for those who can afford more, how quickly those funds would be raised. Thank you, Lions Club.
Nice gesture by the Lions Club, but OIFR has a projected $1.3 million in uncommitted cash and investments to finish 2023. They need about $800K to fund operations through April 2024 when the get their first large county tax revenue check. There should never have to be a public plea for money for critical emergency medical care equipment, but any charitable donation is of course welcome. The new commissioners will craft a levy, likely for an April vote, that will continue to provide the fine level of service OIFR has been providing this small island.
The OneScope is a terrific product that delivers clinical efficacy at a tremendous value. It’s an especially great fit for single paramedic systems in places like San Juan County. OneScope’s parent company, PatCen Healthcare, is also a regional success story…founded by a Seattle entrepreneur in association with a local anesthesiologist. Thank you to the Lions Club for this high-value, community-centric philanthropy.
Robert, I completely agree about not having OIFR itself plea for outside contributions, as you explain – the uncommitted money numbers have never justified the so-called need when the money is already there. Given all that has happened these past years that led to the elections and a collective call for change, people are awake to that fact, and much more.
I still think it’s great that this comes from the Lions Club – especially given that with all the spending going on that was not well managed, a piece of equipment like this may fall through the budget cracks with all the other Capital needs that have been neglected.
I LIKE the idea of voluntary contributions as one can afford. That’s where community ingenuity shines – we’ve shown that in the ways we raise funds for other essential services. But my main hope is that this – what happened in years past up to today – can NEVER happen again.
I agree that we should never have gotten to this point. when you consider the funds that have been available to the Fire Department. We have known for a long time that we need these items. I looked the items up and the good ones seem to be around $2,0000.00, not much when you look at the cost of a new or rebuilt Fire Engine. I am sure that the community will come through as they always do. I will be one of them that sends in money. There was a time when Orcas had three or four folks that came to the aid of the Community with donations of $10,000.00 to $100,000.00. Those folks are no longer here. Just can’t wait for the new Commissions to look at future budgets and see where the money is spent.