ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 13, 1996 TAG: 9602130099
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
David Smith, founding director of the Radford Community Hospital ambulance service, has been hired as the first executive director of Pulaski County's emergency medical services system starting next month.
He was chosen from 13 applicants by the board of the recently formed Regional Emergency Medical Services Inc., which will coordinate rescue squad volunteers and paid ambulance personnel in prehospital emergency care and transportation.
Smith, a Pulaski County native, lives in Fairlawn. He and other members of his family have a long history with the Pulaski County Life Saving Crew, of which he is a life member.
He is a graduate of Pulaski County High School, New River Community College and the University of Maryland, where he received a bachelor's degree in emergency health services management. He has also attended Bluefield State College and completed the National Registry Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic Course.
He has been chairman of the Pulaski County Emergency Medical Services Council for several years.
Since November, the Radford and Pulaski hospitals have paid to have four ambulance attendants work daylight hours on weekdays when it was difficult to have rescue squad and life saving crew volunteers on call.
Starting this spring, the emergency services organization will start charging for ambulance service to offset the cost of paid attendants, support the volunteers and supplement the ambulance service operation.
The county Board of Supervisors will continue to provide and maintain ambulances. Appropriations from Pulaski and Dublin town councils and donations from citizens and organizations still are needed to support rescue services.
There will be no change in the way emergency ambulance service is requested, by calling 911. Further information is available from county Emergency Services Coordinator Stan Crigger at 980-7716.
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