HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-26 Letter to Rosalyn Baker re SB 2658 AmbulanceHarry Kim
Mayor
County of Hawaii
Office of the Mayor
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740
(808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440
January 26, 2018
Senator Rosalyn H. Baker, Chair
Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health
Hawai'i State Capitol, Room 230
Honolulu, HI 96813
Dear Chair Baker and Committee Members:
RE: SB 2658, Ambulances for Kauai and Hawaii County — Making an
Appropriation for Emergency Medical Services
Public Hearing: 02-01-18; 9:30 am — Conf. Rm. 229
Thank you for this opportunity to support funding for two new, much needed,
ambulances, one each for Hawaii and Kauai.
Although I recognize that these units are not inexpensive, the justification for
additional funding is strong. For example:
1. The population of Hawaii County has been rapidly increasing, but no additional
ambulances have been authorized since 2005.
2. The DOH's EMS Provider group has identified Kauai and Hawaii County as the
areas of highest need.
3. The mandated DOH response time (20 minutes) for the District of Puna has been
determined to be unmet between 16% - 39% of the time, and I understand that
Kauai statistics are similar. Adding an additional ambulance unit and personnel
resources for each County obviously would improve those response times.
Please help us provide these life-saving resources for our communities.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry Ki
Mayor
County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.