Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Fire company picked for Latino pilot program
Aim is to improve communication with Hispanic patients
The pilot program is designed to improve communication with Spanish-speaking patients.
KENNETT SQUARE >> Kennett Fire Company No. 1 has been chosen to participate in a pilot program to improve communication with Spanish-speaking patients through the Christiana Care Health System.
According to Fire Chief Chris Plumley, the system will allow emergency medical services providers to connect patients with an interpreter, using an iPad.
“The biggest difficulty we reach in ambulance service is communicating with the Hispanic community,” Plumley said. “With the increased (Hispanic) population, it is even more important. With the push of a button we can have a translator on the other side talking to the patient, helping EMS providers know what’s going on.”
Plumley said that from Chadds Ford to Nottingham, there are only a couple of EMS personnel who are bilingual.
“We are very proud they chose
“The biggest difficulty we reach in ambulance service is communicating with the Hispanic community,” Plumley said. “With the increased (Hispanic) population, it is even more important. With the push of a button we can have a translator on the other side talking to the patient, helping EMS providers know what’s going on.”
— Kennett Fire Company No. 1 Chief Chris Plumley
us for this,” Plumley said. “With our success they can offer it to other communities.”
Council President Leon Spencer was excited to hear the news.
“This (system) gives the patient an opportunity to communicate with the doctor,” he said. “It seems to me this will open up a lot of positive communication. I think this is a real plus for the community.”
Rock The Park
In other business, Richard Lyons, chairman of the Kennett Area Park Authority, said 700 people attended the Rock the Park Concert at Anson B. Nixon Park Sept. 27 featuring the band Love Seed Mama Jump. He said Victory Brewing donated the beer, but ran out twice, and food vendors also ran out of food. Lyons said such a crowd wasn’t anticipated, and the band has agreed to donate services next year. Lyons said KAPA will be better prepared.
Lyons also reported that design consultants have been hired for improvements at Anson Nixon Park that include a new entrance road, and a dog park. A civil engineer has been hired to manage the project.
Pennock Park
Claire Finfrock, Kennett Area Park and Recreation Board liaison, said grants are funding improvements at Herb Pennock Park. She said 120 children attended a summer camp at New Garden Elementary. She also said the board wants to look into the possibility of paving the parking lot at Herb Pennock Park.
Christmas in Kennett
Council approved a request by Mary Hutchins, executive director of Historic Kennett Square, to offer free parking in Kennett Square’s business district for up to three hours from Dec. 17 to Jan. 3.
Hutchins said last year’s cooperation with Longwood Gardens on “Christmas in Kennett” was a huge success and will be offered again this holiday season. The program provides free shuttles from the parking garage on State and Union streets to Longwood Gardens. Last year, she said, about 800 took part in the program.
“It’s pretty difficult to find any kind of a drawback to this,” said Councilman Dan Maffei.
Spencer announced that there are two vacancies on the borough’s Shade Tree Commission, leaving it with no quorum. He urged residents to volunteer.
The borough’s 10th annual Halloween Parade will take place Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. after unanimous approval from council.