VIENNA — During business at the July meeting of the Maries-Osage Ambulance District (MOAD) Board, the board members voted to not do blood draws for the Maries County Sheriff’s Office.

This has been an on-going issue between MOAD and the sheriff’s office. The two entities work together frequently and cooperation is important among the community’s first responders. 

At the meeting, MOAD Administrator Carla Butler said it is the board’s decision whether or not the ambulance district’s paramedics do the blood draws when the sheriff’s office asks them to after picking up an individual the deputies feel if legally drunk. At recent meetings, Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman and associates said other ambulance districts in the area do blood draws for local law enforcement. 

MOAD’s paramedics have stated they are not trained to do blood draws and they do not want to be liable for anything that might occur from doing them. 

Butler said the insurance company said it will not give MOAD any advice on this issue, but did state if doing the blood draws is in the district’s protocols, then the insurance will cover it. Butler said the district’s protocols state it is up to the board members. She also sent emails about it to the MOAD attorney and to the EMS Bureau and both “lean toward we not do them.” It is up to individual ambulance districts.

If MOAD can’t or won’t do a blood draw, the sheriff’s office may take a person to the hospital in Rolla and have to wait in line at the emergency room to get it done. Butler said the concern is as time passes, the blood alcohol content goes down. 

Board member Laura Stratman said MOAD does not always have a paramedic on duty. Butler said in a few months when a new paramedic completes his training, there will be more shifts with medics. EMT’s and CMT’s can’t do blood draws. 

Board member Victor Stratman said if the paramedics don’t want to do the blood draws, then “Let’s put our foot down and not do it. They will know where we stand.”

Butler said it’s an issue that’s been going on for a long time. It needs to be settled. Board Vice President Steve Maxwell said considering what the lawyer suggests, the liability of it, and the fact MOAD doesn’t have paramedics available on many of its shifts, “We should not do them.” Board member Eileen Smith said they have to protect the district’s staff. 

Maxwell made the motion for MOAD staff to not do blood draws. Smith gave the second and all voted in favor of it, except Victor Stratman, who abstained because he is a Maries County Commissioner.