KEALAKEHE, Hawaii – Two resolutions supporting different bills at the state capitol that would fund two advanced life support ambulances – one in Puna, one in Makalei – were approved by the Hawaii County Council on Wednesday.

This is the second time around for these bills at the legislature.

The situation was explained a few weeks ago by Laura Mallery-Sayre. She is the mother of 25-year-old Danny Sayre who lost his life in Pololu Valley in 1997. Fire department rescue crews tried valiantly to save him, putting themselves in harms way trying to do so. Ever since, Laura and her husband Frank have been raising money for the Hawaii County Fire Department through the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation. She is in full support of both measures.

The language for the Puna ambulance resolution:

RESOLUTION No. ’70 15

A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAI‘I STATE LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT FUNDING FOR AN ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT AMBULANCE TO BE BASED IN PUNA, AS PROVIDED IN SENATE BILL NO. 1016 AND HOUSE BILL NO. 851.

WHEREAS, the district of Puna is the fastest growing and most underserved in the State, with a current population of more than 45,000 individuals served by three ambulances; and

WHEREAS, the district of Puna has recorded on average 180 emergency medical services incidents per month for the last five years; and

WHEREAS, an active lava flow from Kilauea volcano poses a long-term threat to Highway 130, cutting off critical access to emergency health care, delaying the response time, and endangering the lives of thousands of people who are unable to relocate; and

WHEREAS, an additional advanced life support ambulance in Puna, plus funding for equipment and personnel costs as provided in Senate Bill No. 1016 and House Bill No. 851 will improve access to emergency health care, reduce the response time, and save lives; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that the Legislature is urged to support funding for an advanced life support ambulance in Puna, as provided in Senate Bill No. 1016 and House Bill No. 851.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Council supports all efforts by the Legislature to improve access to emergency health care for residents and Visitors on Hawai‘i Island.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable Senator Josh Green, the Honorable Senator Jill N. Tokuda, the Honorable Representative Della Au Belatti, the Honorable Representative Sylvia J. Luke, and the Director of the Department of Health.Resolution 70-15

The resolution for the Makalei ambulance:

RESOLUTION NO. 79 15

A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAI‘I STATE LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT FUNDING FOR AN ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT AMBULANCE IN MAKALEI, AS PROVIDED IN SENATE BILL NO. 298 AND HOUSE BILL NO. 481.

WHEREAS, the Makalei Fire Station in North Kona has been operating on Highway 190 since 2013 to serve a fast-growing district of about 45,000 people, but it is not equipped or staffed with an advanced life support ambulance; and

WHEREAS, without an advanced life support ambulance at Makalei Fire Station, depending on the availability of nearby ambulances, response times in the area range from 8 minutes in the best circumstances to 30 minutes; and

WHEREAS, an advanced life support ambulance at Makalei will reduce the time for emergency medical service personnel to respond to emergencies involving residents and Visitors on Hawai‘i Island; and

WHEREAS, the continued lack of an advanced life support ambulance at Makalei reduces the ability of emergency medical service personnel to respond to life-threatening incidents in a timely manner; and

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that the Legislature is urged to support funding for an advanced life support ambulance in Makalei, as provided in Senate Bill No. 298 and House Bill No. 481.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Council supports all efforts by the Legislature to improve access to emergency health care for residents and visitors on Hawai‘i Island.Resolution 79 15