HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 288 Draft 01 2012-2014 •0:4.9f Nom's,
COUNTY OF HAWAII -*-' % STATE OF HAWAII
•P•'•1 -W't
RESOLUTION NO. 288 1..4
A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO APPROVE
HOUSE BILL NOS. 1722 AND 2360 AND SENATE BILL NO. 2348, WHICH
APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO AUGMENT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE
COUNTY OF HAWAII.
WHEREAS, according to the 2010 Census, Puna is the fastest growing district in the
State of Hawai`i with a population of over 45,000; and
WHEREAS, Puna spans approximately 320,000 acres and is just slightly smaller than
the island of Kaua`i; and
WHEREAS, challenging geographical distances, an increase in emergency calls, and
distant primary care services result in longer emergency response and transport times; and
WHEREAS, according to the Hawai`i Fire Department, from 2013 to 2014, 5,149 calls
for emergency services in Puna accounted for 27 percent of Hawai`i County's 911 calls; and
WHEREAS, according to the Hawai`i Fire Department, patient transports from the Puna
district take an average of two hours from the time they respond to when they return to the fire
station; and
WHEREAS, according to the Hawai`i Fire Department, medics may experience ten or
more patient transports per day, which places personnel on the road for nearly 24 consecutive
hours; and
WHEREAS, according to the Hawai`i Fire Department, average emergency response
times in North Kona span between eight and 30 minutes, with an additional 25 to 30 minutes to
transport a patient from North Kona to Kona Community Hospital; and
WHEREAS, House Bill No. 1722 and Senate Bill No. 2348 appropriate funds for two
special emergency medical response vehicle units to be based in Puna and Makalei, in North
Kona, and for the acquisition of vehicles, equipment, and personnel costs for state-certified
emergency medical service personnel; and
WHEREAS, House Bill No. 2360 makes an appropriation for a grant-in-aid to the
Hawai`i Fire Department to provide Puna with an emergency medical services unit(special
emergency medical response vehicle); now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it
hereby urges the Hawai`i State Legislature to approve House Bill Nos. 1722 and 2360 and
Senate Bill No. 2348, which appropriate funds to augment emergency medical services in the
County of Hawai`i.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Governor Neil Abercrombie; the Honorable Senate President Donna
Mercado Kim; the Honorable House Speaker Joseph M. Souki; the Honorable Mayor William P.
Kenoi; the Honorable Senator Josh Green; the Honorable Senator Russell E. Ruderman; the
Honorable Representative Faye P. Hanohano; the Honorable Representative Nicole E. Lowen;
and Fire Chief Darren Rosario.
Dated at Kona , Hawai`i, this 19th day of February , 2014 .
INTRODUCED BY:
'4UNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
Hilo, Hawai`i EOFF X
FORD X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by ILAGAN X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the KANUHA
County of Hawaii on February 19, 2014 X
KERN X
ONISHI X
ATTEST: POINDEXTER X
81NC"
WILLS X
YOSHIMOTO X
9 0 0 0
r . Reference: 0-647/Waived CREDO
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON&PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 28S 14
2