Through the month of September Iolas emergency services have taken 139 more calls than the previous year for Allen County, with 54.8% of those calls coming from Iola.
City of Iola officials say they cant pinpoint the increase in calls, but a lot of it has to do with people with chronic illnesses.
We have people that need help two to three times per week. They cant help it, they just need to get to the hospital, Iola fire chief Tim Thyer said. We get calls for lift assists as well, where they need help loading an elderly person to take them to the hospital. Half the time they refuse help, saying they dont need to go.
Emergency services took 1,618 calls through the first nine months of 2019 and is on target to hit 2,200 for the year.
Iola City Administrator Sid Fleming said if they had a history of a steady increase of emergency calls, officials might try to find the reason.
Instead, EMS director Michael Burnett said emergency calls fluctuate each and every year.
EMS received 1,526 calls in 2015, 1,403 in 2016, 1,478 in 2017 and 1,479 for 2018.
IN JULY the county purchased a 16-foot rescue boat with a 50 horsepower motor, along with a 14-foot inflatable raft with a 30 hp motor. It also included a double-stack trailer and a light package for a grand total of $44,747.
As of yet, neither boat has been on the water, Thats because no one has been trained to use the crafts.
Thyer said he has been in contact with someone at the University of Kansas for flood water training.
The problem is you have to have prerequisites to take the course. You have to take a 200-yard swim test with no personal floatation device. You also have to have either a wet or dry suit, helmet, boots and gloves. I havent decided how we are going to fund that, he said.
Thyer said the minimum number of people they can bring to the class is 12 and wanted to include three from the Iola and Humboldt fire departments and some from others in the area.
He said gear alone will cost up to $1,300 per individual.
Thyer said he hopes to hold a fundraiser in the future, so they can purchase the gear and get as many people trained as possible.
