Louisa County to consider joining PulsePoint Fire/EMS system

The seven member Board of Supervisors in Louisa County meets at 5 p.m. for a closed session in the Louisa County Public Meeting Room. The open session begins at 6 p.m. and this is a fairly light agenda. (meeting overview)

The consent agenda has a few items of note.

• Supervisors will recognize the years of service Beth N. Richardson spent in the General Registrar’s office (learn more)
• There is a resolution to authorize additional money to hire additional teachers at Louisa County Middle School. Specifically, $109.258 to hire two teachers for higher than expected enrollment. (resolution)
• There is a resolution to approve and award a $29.5000 contract to New River Engineers to conduct a survey related to the publicly-owned Louisa County Airport. Specifically this is to “obtain a confident mapping of the Louisa County Airport’s property limits” according to the request for proposals. (resolution)

There will be presentations from the Virginia Department of Transportation, from Region Ten, and from the Louisa County Chamber of Commerce. These aren’t available in advance. 

Under new business, there will be two resolutions related to the Department of Fire*& EMS. The first is to implement the PulsePoint software that allows the public to track calls in progress. 

The second is to allow for the application of state funding to purchase two drug box systems. 

Both Albemarle and Charlottesville use PulsePoint applications to communicate public safety information in real-time. The goal is to save lives by getting help to people who have suffered a heart attack.

“When someone in a public place suffers a cardiac emergency, PulsePoint alerts trained individuals nearby, enabling them to begin CPR or apply an automated external defibrillator (AED) before professional responders arrive,” reads a request letter from the Louisa County Fire / EMS Management Oversight Group to the Board of Supervisors. 

On August 15, the group voted to support moving forward with a grant from the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative and the Louisa County Rescue Squad to implement the system. 

The request for a $21,000 Rescue Squad Assistance Fund Grant program would go to purchase two drug box systems for two fire stations. This will require a local match of $21,000. 

Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment is from the September 16, 2024 Week Ahead edition of the newsletter.