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Harry Kim <br />Mayor <br />County of Hawaii <br />Office of the Mayor <br />Wil Okabe <br />Managing Director <br />Barbara J. Kossow <br />Deputy Managing Director <br />25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 <br />KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 <br />(808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 <br />January 26, 2018 <br />Senator Rosalyn H. Baker, Chair <br />Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health <br />Hawai'i State Capitol, Room 230 <br />Honolulu, HI 96813 <br />Dear Chair Baker and Committee Members: <br />RE: SB 2658, Ambulances for Kauai and Hawaii County — Making an <br />Appropriation for Emergency Medical Services <br />Public Hearing: 02-01-18; 9:30 am — Conf. Rm. 229 <br />Thank you for this opportunity to support funding for two new, much needed, <br />ambulances, one each for Hawaii and Kauai. <br />Although I recognize that these units are not inexpensive, the justification for <br />additional funding is strong. For example: <br />1. The population of Hawaii County has been rapidly increasing, but no additional <br />ambulances have been authorized since 2005. <br />2. The DOH's EMS Provider group has identified Kauai and Hawaii County as the <br />areas of highest need. <br />3. The mandated DOH response time (20 minutes) for the District of Puna has been <br />determined to be unmet between 16% - 39% of the time, and I understand that <br />Kauai statistics are similar. Adding an additional ambulance unit and personnel <br />resources for each County obviously would improve those response times. <br />Please help us provide these life-saving resources for our communities. <br />Respectfully submitted, <br />Harry Ki <br />Mayor <br />County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. <br />