EMS Project – Northern Columbia County Rotary

The Carter Kit has an assortment of items that can help sooth a patient during transport.

It was brought to our attention by local EMS leadership that there is some specialized equipment that is not included under standard funding which can make the ambulance experience better and safer for certain demographics within our community.

The Carter Kit contains a weighted blanket, noise-cancelling earmuffs, sunglasses, a non-verbal communication card and an assortment of sensory items that are soothing to people, particularly children who are on the autism spectrum. Having these kits on every ambulance can mean the difference between having to sedate a child or being able to transport them more calmly without pharmaceutical intervention.

The B.E.A.R. Device (bariatric equalizing abdominal restraint) allows EMTs to transport larger patients safely in a standard ambulance. Currently, there is only one ambulance, located in Valatie which can transport larger patients, which means these patients may have to await the arrival of a second ambulance from the northern end of the county before they can be transported.

Five Rotary clubs from Columbia and Greene Counties have banded together to raise the funds to equip every ambulance that serves Columbia County, as well as Greenville, and the Cairo-Durham areas in Greene County with this equipment. This project will be ongoing until either we meet our fundraising goal or June 30, 2025.

As part of this project, to date, we have had a fundraiser at Del’s in Kinderhook, sold raffles, sponsorships and miscellaneous donated products at street fairs in Valatie, the Berkshire Beverage Trail’s Wine & Food Festival and the Columbia County Fair. Visit our Calendar page to see upcoming events.