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| Sheriff Allard |
BATH – All Steuben County deputies will become certified emergency medical technicians (EMTs) within the next two years, county Sheriff Jim Allard said this week. "They are often first on scene in an emergency situation, especially in rural areas," Allard told the county Legislature’s Public Safety and Corrections committee Monday. "It only makes sense to have them be certified EMTs." Deputies now receive annual training in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators. They also are certified in administering Narcan©, a medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially in overdoses. In recent years, deputies have been credited with saving lives through those certifications. "I believe that our volunteer ambulance services are awesome, but are in a recruitment crisis," Allard said, later. "I also believe that our function as a Sheriff’s Office is to save lives in any capacity which we can." County Office of Emergency Services Director Tim Marshall endorsed Allard’s plan. "Some of our volunteer EMS agencies struggle to have qualified EMT’s to meet the needs of the community," Marshall said. "The addition of additional trained EMT’s would only help to fulfill our capabilities especially during the day when many of the volunteers are working." Four county deputies are now certified EMTs through their volunteer fire departments, he said.
Allard said training is expected to take three to six months and, under a state pilot program, take a practical exam to be recertified as required. "Whether through addiction counseling or serving as EMTs at emergency scenes, I believe that our goal and purpose is to keep the peace for the county and to provide a public safety service to the citizens," Allard said.
