Sun Lakes Fire Department Emergency Medical Services Coordinator Chris Barden demonstrates how the flash drive inserts into the electronic patient care report tablet that is carried by SLFD paramedics on calls. (Photo and article by Brian Curry)
Brian Curry
With over 700 sold in the Sun Lakes area in just a few short months, the Flash Drive Initiative is an overwhelming success led by the Sun Lakes Fire Department’s Community Assistance Program volunteers and their outreach into the community.
The flash drive, which stores your medical information so that SLFD paramedics can access it in seconds and transfer it to their electronic patient care report tablets that they carry on medical calls, has also been used flawlessly on three emergency incidents in this period.
In January, CAP members hosted an Open Assistance Day for Sun Lakes residents who may have felt uncomfortable or unable to fill out their flash drive forms on their computer. The response and feedback was so positive that the CAP volunteers have scheduled another Open Assistance Day for Saturday, March 28.
The event will take place in Room A6 at the Cottonwood Country Club between the hours of 1:30-4:30 p.m. Several CAP members will be on hand to assist you. Residents, please bring your laptop and flash drives with you (flash drive will be available for purchase that day); also bring your medications in their original bottles and the names and phone numbers of persons you wish to have as emergency contacts.
The CAP team also continues to appear at local events and has scheduled brief talks introducing the flash drive to various Sun Lakes groups including these in the month of March; Saturday, March 7 at Art at the Lakes in Cottonwood between 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and Tuesday, March 10 at the Oakwood Men’s Golfers at 2:00 p.m.
The flash drives are also available for purchase at the Sun Lakes firehouse on Alma School Road just north of Riggs Road during normal business hours Monday through Friday. The cost is $5 which is just above cost.
If you have any other questions about the flash drives or if you need or want to schedule an appointment for the March 28 Open Assistance Day contact CAP member Nancy Roberts at 419-306-2959 or e-mail the SLFD’s dedicated flash drive e-mail at [email protected].