Guemes Island Fire Chief Olivia Cole raised concerns over the availability of emergency services to the island after being faced with a difficult situation on Sunday morning.
A little after midnight on Oct. 6, the Guemes Island Fire Department responded to an emergency call and requested an after-hours ferry to transport an ambulance to the island to carry the patient to Island Hospital in Anacortes.
The GIFD was informed by dispatch that no ferry was available to transport emergency services.
“The patient was in a lot of pain…(They) were adamant about not going by (helicopter). They didn’t have much money…” Cole said in an interview with the Anacortes American on Oct. 7.
The patient ultimately decided they needed immediate help.
“As they were doubled over we helped them sign up for the insurance. I don’t know what kind of insurance the patient had, but now they have Lifeline insurance. They cover the cost for (the helicopter).”
On Oct. 6, the GIFD put out a Facebook post:
“Guemes Island Fire Department responded to (an) after hours med call last night. Shortly into the call we were informed that the ferry would be unable to respond. We had no other choice but to call for a (helicopter) as our patient was in pain. Changes need to be made in regard to our emergency ferry responses and / or the lack thereof during after hours…”
The American contacted Skagit County Ferry Operations regarding the situation.
Skagit County Deputy Administrator Jennifer Johnson wrote in an email to the American that the County “does everything possible” to respond to after hours emergencies.
She said that on Sunday, Oct. 6, they’d only had two employees respond, but needed three legally to operate the ferry. Johnson said they let dispatch know fifteen minutes after the call they wouldn’t be able to respond.
“Our after-hours service is a courtesy service when available, and the local agencies have received communication that the ferry should not be the primary plan for emergency transport,” she said.
“As clarified in the State EMS & Trauma System Plan for our region, all ALS access to Guemes Island is dependent on the availability of the County operated ferry. We always do our best to provide after-hours emergency service, however this is not a guarantee.”
Johnson went on to say via email that the county is working with local agencies to create a plan for similar situations.
Anacortes Fire Department Chief Bill Harris confirmed Tuesday that he’d been in contact with Skagit County to form a plan, and they’d started discussions about a month ago.
“We’ve known there’s been some reliability issues,” Harris said about the ferry’s after hours services.
The Anacortes City Council approved a port security grant on Oct. 7 and AFD is looking to use those funds to purchase a port security boat. Harris said the boat would be able to reach the island and transport emergency services when no other options were available.
Cole confirmed that AFD’s boat might help for some emergency services, but it doesn’t solve the whole problem. She wants to see an emergency plan put in place.
“There’s a bigger problem…What’s going to happen when there’s a 2 a.m. fire and I only have 15 firefighters, limited water, limited resources, and nobody’s coming out here to help because the ferry won’t respond and bring more trucks and resources,” Cole said.
“What I really want to see happen is an emergency response plan with us, There’s something that’s going on that’s not right, and I’m not sure what it is, but I need to advocate for my islanders.” – Skagit Valley Herald