The Mid-Mo Ambulance District updated its tobacco-use policy for its employees at the June 12 regular meeting.
To date, no smoking is permitted in the ambulances or in the bases. Administrator Lee Kempf, however, told the board that ashcans are available for his staff to use, but cigarette butts are being thrown in the yards and at the back doors of the bases.
In addition to the litter in the yards, Kempf located a spit cup in one of the ambulance cup holders and mentioned a complaint from a patient about the employees' smelling of smoke.
The new policy will ban the use of tobacco products of any kind to be used or kept inside any district bases as of July 1, 2019.
On Jan. 1, 2020, the use of all tobacco products will be prohibited on all district properties. The board added the use of vapor products to this policy.
In light of the May 22 tornado that swept through Jefferson City and Eldon, Kempf said he sent two ambulances to Eldon and one to Jefferson City for additional aid. The Jefferson City crew did transport one patient to a medical facility.
Earl Reuter, president of the board, and Kempf visited the Versailles base and noted structural changes that need to be made. Bids will be collected and reviewed at the July meeting.
Run stats for the month of May were as follows: Tipton, 58 calls with 36 transports; California, 76 calls with 47 transports; and Versailles, 191 calls with 138 transports. The total calls for the district were 325 with 221 transports for a transport rate on patient contact calls of 80 percent.