HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-04-07 PACKET 04.R.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM #
DATE 04/07/10
PREPARED BY Public Safety Craig Woolery
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Pass a motion approving the grant application from Washington County for Radiological
Emergency Preparedness (REP) reimbursement grant towards the purchase of a new blood
gas monitor.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Pass a motion approving the grant application from Washington County for REP
reimbursement grant towards the purchase of a new blood gas monitor.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
MEMO /LETTER: Memo dated March 31, 2010 from Fire Chief Bob Byerly
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
City Administrator /Date /j r
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER
CITY OF
MINNESOTA
COTTAGE GROVE
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
Director of Public Safety Craig Woolery
From: Fire Chief Bob Byerly
Date: March 31, 2010
Subject: Radiological Emergency Preparedness Reimbursement Grant
BACKGROUND
The City of Cottage Grove Emergency Management Division is involved each year in a
Radiological Preparedness drill in case of a release at Prairie Island Nuclear power plant. This
drill involves Washington County Emergency Management, the State of Minnesota Homeland
Security and Police, Fire and Emergency Medical services personnel. Our drills usually last 3
hours and are important practice sessions.
The Minnesota Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Radiological
Emergency Preparedness Program is intended "to ensure that the health and safety of the
public is protected in the event of a radiological incident at the Monticello or Prairie Island
nuclear generating plants. This is a comprehensive program that includes annual training,
exercises, and emergency plan reviews ensure state agencies, local jurisdictions, and the
utility are ready to respond should an incident occur." (Source: HSEM website)
To fulfill this mission, the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, along with several local
jurisdictions in those states, receive grants (Radiological Emergency Preparedness [REP]
Grant). These grants are intended to assist local jurisdictions in planning, preparing, training,
and exercising for an event at one of the state's two nuclear power plants. Washington County
receives funds because it is a host for a decontamination /reception center for the Prairie Island
Nuclear Power Plant.
Because the reception center is located at the Cottage Grove Armory, any activation of the
center would require the participation of Cottage Grove Public Safety — Police, Fire & EMS.
Recognizing this, Washington County not only reimburses Cottage Grove Public Safety for its
annual REP training hours, but also intends to provide Cottage Grove Public Safety with some
of the funds it received in the FY2009 grant. Funds would come from the Mission Services
component of the grant and the fiscal year for these funds ends June 30, 2010.
A requirement of the REP Grant is that all purchases be directly related to Cottage Grove's
response to the Reception Center activation at the Armory. With the understanding that our
command truck (if available) would be set up during a Reception Center activation, and our
ambulances are also part of any activation, the purchase of some equipment for the command
vehicle and ambulances from the REP grant is permitted.
DISCUSSION
During an activation of the Armory reception center during an incident at Prairie Island Nuclear
power plant, one or more of our ambulances and medical personnel would be activated. We
would be monitoring medical conditions of patients and assisting in decontamination as
needed. Some patients may need to have their blood gases checked and medical crews would
utilize one of our current two Masimo blood gas monitors. With a carbon monoxide pulse
oximeter, EMS crews would instantly get a measure of a patient's carbon monoxide and blood
gas levels by placing a non - invasive finger probe on the patient. The machine measures the
amount of carbon monoxide in the patient's blood and displays a reading. Patients coming in to
the reception center may need to be stabilized before being forwarded to a hospital. Checking
carbon monoxide and blood gases is an important part of this medical screening.
Carbon monoxide pulse oximeters are also be used at fire scenes during firefighter
rehabilitation. When a firefighter was resting and having their vital signs monitored, a carbon
monoxide oximeter would be used to examine a firefighter's possible exposure.
The cost of a Masimo handheld carbon monoxide oximeter is $3,506.00. The grant
reimbursement request is for $1,500.00 from Washington County Emergency Management.
The additional $2,006.00 would be paid from the Ambulance Enterprise fund. Our goal would
be to have a carbon monoxide pulse oximeter in each of the City's 3 ambulances (we currently
have 2).
RECOMMENDATION
Recommend approval of request to apply for grant money from Washington County for REP
grant for purchase of a new blood gas monitor. This is a reimbursement grant of $1,500.00 and
the City will be reimbursed by Washington County after submitting receipt and payment of the
bill for the monitor.