Gonzales ESD No. 1 elects officers, demos new oxygen machine

The Gonzales Emergency Services District No. 1 elected its newest slate of officers at its meeting on Thursday, March 11.

All officers were re-elected for the positions they had previously held, save Secretary Linda Carter, whose secondary role as Assistant Treasurer has been passed to board newcomer Tony Stone.

This leaves the slate of board members for the next year with Rene’ De la Garza as President, Commie Hisey, D.O. as Vice President, Linda Carter as Secretary, Christina Jahns as Treasurer, and Stone as Assistant Treasurer.

The board received a demonstration from EMS Captain Scott Evan of a new portable oxygen machine purchased by the district. Evan said the new device can humidify and heat oxygen which can be administered through a high-powered nasal cannula anywhere from room-level oxygen, at about 21%, to 100% oxygen.

The heating and humidifying of air helps to maintain the internal temperature of patients, at 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Using such a machine can also help keep patients off of ventilators, according to Evans, who said this could be used in transporting patients with COVID-19, chronic respiratory issues and pneumonia. He said it will primarily be used in the vehicle designated for critical care.

In other business:

• Minutes from the regular Feb. 25 meeting were approved.
• Payment of pending bills was approved.
• The board received a report from EMS Executive Director Eddie Callender.
• The board authorized Callender to work with the county and an engineer to explore options related to the board’s pursuit of a new Nixon EMS station.