NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County EMS Director Dave Johnston knows that his agency is the one that needs to be ready to help on the Fairgrounds for 10 days each September.
"We really push our staffing up during that 10 day period," Johnston said. "For us, the prep for that fair really starts September of last year. We go through and we look at the issues we encounter the previous year and we start prepping. Last year, we encountered a really high call volume."
With that in mind, they will have lots of resources on the fairgrounds.
"At the high volume times, we're going to have two roving units out there, along with our first aid station staffed," Johnston said. "Then, we'll have a supervisor on scene out there to help, kind of direct the calls as they occur out on the fairgrounds."
These aren't ambulances, they're just conveyances to get someone to the ambulance.
"We have an ATV or UTV style cart," said special projects chief Monika Heller. "That allows us to get around the fairgrounds a little bit easier. These carts allow us to transport patients to the gates, carry all the equipment that we need and respond in a safe manner on the fairgrounds."
Through the weekends and on dollar day on Monday, they will have two carts running, with plans for a single cart on the other days. In addition to the EMS staff, the firefighters that work the fair are also well trained and can help in an emergency. The main way to avoid most types of emergency on the fairgrounds is simple, drink enough water.
"If you know you're headed out the next day, it would be best to start out your hydration that evening, so you're hydrated well," Johnston said. "The fair has done some good things this year. There are four refill points for water bottles out on the fairgrounds this year. That's going to expand, I understand, to eleven next year."
Also, if you're drinking an alcoholic beverage as you walk around the fair, once you've had one, have a couple of bottles of water before having another, if at all possible, so that you can stay safe with that additional activity.