NEWPORT-The Cocke County Public Safety Committee discussed "The Golden Hour" and whether first responders have the authority to call for helicopter assistance during its monthly meeting at the Cocke County Courthouse.

      During the first week of August, a six-year-old Parrottsville child died from injuries suffered during an ATV wreck off Loftis Road, Parrottsville. Both the Parrottsville Volunteer Ambulance Service and Cocke County Sheriff's Department were first on the scene. While at the accident site on Loftis Road, Detective Derrikc Woods attempted to call in a helicopter to send the child to the nearest trauma center. However, according to reports, a chopper wasn't called until Allied E.M.S. paramedics arrived on scene. As a result of the accident, several citizens within the community have asked who has the authority to put "a bird in the air."

      Allied E.M.S. Director Butch Jarnagin told the committee, "We don't care if first responders call a helicopter provided they follow first responder laws."      According to general T.C.A. rules, a first responder is defined as, "A person who has completed required training and who participates in an organized program of mobile pre-hospital emergency medical care. First responder certification means successful participation and completion of the First Responder Course, which means instruction in basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide emergency medical care to the sick and injured to individuals who may respond before licensed Basic or Advanced Life Support units arrive." Moreover, First Responder Service shall mean a service providing capabilities for mobile pre-hospital emergency medical care using emergency medical response vehicles.

      Walt Reese, 984 Luna Way, told the committee, "I don't think anyone here is to cast blame in any direction. The question is not whether Allied E.M.S. is at fault, the question is whether any emergency responder in the county has the authority to request air support from Lifestar or Wings. We all know what the 'Golden Hour' is...if you can get someone to a facility in the first hour after the accident. Any emergency responder should be able to request air support."

      Jarnagin said, "My dispatchers will not call until a medic gets on scene. In the past, our policy was not to crank the helicopter until a medic arrived." Jarnagin added that his dispatchers have not always been alerted to the situation when air support was requested from a cell phone. "We've had two instances in the past seven to eight months where someone called a helicopter and my people had no knowledge."

      In a copy of the general rules, Rule 1200-12-1-16, which Jarnagin supplied both the media and committee, it says, "Official response shall be performed only as assigned upon the specific policy guidelines of the coordinating dispatch agency responsible for dispatching emergency ambulances and/or an emergency (911) communications district. No emergency medical first responder or emergency medical response vehicle shall be authorized to make an unofficial response on the basis of information obtained by monitoring a radio frequency of a law enforcement ambulance service, fire department, rescue squad or public safety agency."

      Jarnagin continued, "Every time you light those igniters on that helicopter, it's a thousand bucks. In 2006, we had 147 patients flown, in 2007, we had 111 and since July 1, we've had 38 patients flown." The Allied director added, "We're trying to help our hospital, but we do realize we have an hour and anyone who needs to be flown will be flown under destination guidelines." Jarnagin then said, "Yes, I agree, the little boy needed to be flown. A helicopter was in the air before our people were there."

      Lonnie Ottinger, current chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said, "If you're qualified and you're on-scene, you should be able to call in a helicopter." Woods said, "This was a bad situation." Jarnagin said Woods made two initial phone calls: the first to ask how long it would take to get a helicopter and the second time to ask where the ambulance was and where was the helicopter. "We said it was on standby," said Jarnagin. Woods said he was told Allied couldn't send its people out without their (Allied) medics on scene. "I was on the scene trying to manage the scene," Woods added.

      Jarnagin again stressed Allied will not request launch without its paramedics on scene. Regarding the issue of having various emergency responders make the call for a helicopter, E-911 Director Kathy Cody said, "I have no problem with getting a policy procedure together. I've had visits from three helicopter services that said they would rather be in the air and turn back around instead of losing a life."

      Sheriff Claude Strange said, "If there's a misunderstanding, we need to change it." Strange said the cost to call off a helicopter isn't worth the cost of a life.

      "I do think if Derrick calls from the scene to let us know, we can let you (Allied) know." Woods said, "Our officers are going to call dispatch." Strange told Jarnagin and Allied paramedics at the meeting, "Nine out of 10 times, you all are there before we are."

      Jarnagin said that although it sometimes makes his employees mad, "We got an E.M.S. act we follow. I follow it to the 'T.' We want everything done according to state law to avoid a lawsuit. Everybody needs to be on the same page...we're here to help people."

      Strange told Jarnagin, "If we need more training, we'll be there to take it." Jarnagin asked the sheriff, "How many patrol cars do you have on a shift?" Strange answered, "Five or six." Jarnigan replied, "If we donate and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) to one of those vehicles (per shift), at least there will be one during every shift." Strange said, "You set up the training, we'll supply the men."

      Jarnagin said Allied can't do the training certifications; they must be done at a community college. The Newport Rescue Squad's Rusty Williams said certification costs about $2,000, but can be done at venues other than local community colleges, noting Jefferson County has a First Responder program. Cody stood up and said, "I think we're overlooking the issue. Everybody in this room is here to better serve the citizens of Cocke County. The bottom line is we need a policy where we get people help as soon as possible."

      "There are more ambulances in Cocke County now than there ever has been," said Jarnagin, who noted improvements in the Cosby and Parrottsville areas. Jarnagin added, "The county is not paying for this service." Williams said the first responder at the scene should be the commander of the scene at that time. "Maybe it's something we need to work on. When the first responder is on scene and asks for a helicopter, it should be on scene." Williams also noted, "We're (Newport Rescue Squad) not trying to diagnose injuries. I really think it's a policy procedure thing we need to work on as first responders."

      Jarnagin's response to Williams' statement was, "The same talk this man (Williams) gave is the same talk I gave to the county commission. I have been a paramedic since 1982 and I don't have a thing against any of you all." Parrottsville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kenny Trentham said, "We're not trying to blame Allied, we just need to get some help." Jarnagin said that ever since Haney's death, "My phone's rung off the hook." Trentham said Allied was given the wrong directions to the scene of the accident. Trentham said Allied was mistakenly told the accident location was off Highway 321, which is now the Old Parrottsville Highway because of the new road development. He added, "If any of you all are lost, get on the radio and we'll tell you how to get there."

      Walt Cross, of the Grassy Fork Volunteer Fire Department said he feels communication is a concern. "In Grassy Fork, our concern is distance and time," which he said is around 30-minutes. Cross also mention poor cell phone reception as a problem in the Grassy Fork area. "We're dealing with systems and policy, not Allied. We need to have the ability to change current policy to call a bird."

      Allied's Kevin Marshall said, "I don't care for you calling a helicopter, but we need to work out a procedure." Ottinger asked Cody, "Kathy, set up an appointment with the Newport Police Department, Cocke County Sheriff's Department, Allied E.M.S., Newport Rescue Squad and volunteers to set up a guideline." Walt Reese noted the Cocke County Emergency Responders Association.

      Newport Police Chief Maurice Shults, a 25-year veteran of law enforcement, said, "I came because I have a concern. I don't have any medical expertise, but if I go to a scene and one of my officers has a bullet hole in him, I know to call." Shults that in his career, the worst wreck he ever saw was at Newport Raceway. Shults said that after the wreck he watched the trauma unit at Baptist Hospital "work like they were at gunpoint to save (the injured person's) life."

      The chief continued, "I saw people acting and reacting to do what they had to do. We need centralized communication. I've never been more proud of Cocke County than I was that night." Shults added, "I understand the helicopter shouldn't have to fly every time." Shults said the issue is not about sole individuals. "It's not about anybody, lets do what's right for the citizens of Cocke County, the people traveling through the county and the citizens of Newport and those who travel through the city," said Shults.

      Shults continued, "It all boils down to having a centralized communication system. Don't anyone get their feelings hurt, I've been guilty of saying 'why didn't they call? The problem is not with Allied. We need to communicate, cooperate and save lives."

      Cody told the committee that on Monday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m., the heads of each county and city emergency personnel department (police, sheriff, fire, volunteers) need to be in her office to discuss possible policy changes.