This morning, Wythe County’s public information department announced that the county had been awarded a grant from the state’s Rescue Squad Assistance Fund in the amount of $42,566.59.

The grant will provide funding for the county’s E-911 center to purchase specialized computer software that will aid dispatchers in providing pre-arrival instruction to callers – instructions that can make all the difference in areas geographically cut off from main roads and dozens of minutes from local rescue squads.

By asking the callers specific questions concerning their medical emergency, dispatchers will be able to feed the software detailed information which in turn narrows down the patient’s exact medical needs and treatment procedure.

“This software will give our dispatchers the ability to provide critical emergency instructions to county residents, as well as those along our interstate highways, while emergency responders are in route,” stated James Copeland, Director of Wythe County Emergency Communications.

Jeremy Farley, Wythe County’s grant coordinator, agrees, “The implementation of this software is only a small element of a much larger undertaking, aimed at ensuring county residents and visitors are provided the very best level of care possible.  We’re grateful for our partners in the towns of Wytheville and Rural Retreat for their assistance in securing this grant.”

County emergency officials say once the software has been purchased, each E-911 emergency dispatcher will undergo extensive training in the program.

Dispatchers certified to offer emergency instructions to callers will undergo additional training  on the latest medical protocols every two years.

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