Bonner County EMS finds home for defribrillator

BLANCHARD — Bonner County EMS has located one of its automatic external defibrillators at Stoneridge Resort in Blanchard.

Stoneridge Resort, hosts close to 20,000 overnight guests at the resort annually, and up to 60,000 visits to their Recreation Center every year. Cindy Thomas, Stoneridge Resort manager, accepted the defribrillator on behalf of the county for use of the general public in an emergency.

“We have always practiced having a good working relationship with our emergency responders,” Thomas said. “Our goal is to do our job to help those in need until the EMS people arrive and then transition that care to the EMS providers.”

Thomas thanked Bonner County EMS Chief Robert Wakeley for helping better protect residents and visitors to the resort.

“It is our hope and desire to never have to use it but our goal to provide the best possible outcome for someone who may experience a heart attack here,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the Life Flight helicopter service that works in tandem with the EMS system, which provides yet another layer of medical assistance.

“When you are in a rural area, response time is key to a positive outcome,” she said. “We value our relationship with EMS and thank Spirit Lake Fire/Ambulance and Bonner County EMS for their continued service on behalf of the people in this end of the county.”