Three Rivers upgrades EMS equipment, OKs hosting 911 center

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Students interested in emergency medical services training will benefit from new equipment approved Wednesday by the Three Rivers College board.

FAAC Inc. of Ann Arbor, Michigan, submitted a winning quote of $102,500 for an EMS three-screen driving simulator package.

"This is our first one. It will greatly expand our capability to train students," said Three Rivers president Wesley Payne.

A trauma mannequin was purchased from Gaumard Scientific of Miami for $57,822.66. It will be used to train EMS and nursing students in treating trauma patients.

Board members also approved a lease agreement with the city of Poplar Bluff and the Butler County Emergency Management Agency relating to housing a 911 call center on the Three Rivers campus,

"We will house the joint 911 center in the former day-care building," Payne said. "It will provide us with a potential dispatcher training center as we move more and more into police training."

The rent is $250 per month.

Dispatchers from the Poplar Bluff Police Department will move into the 911 center as soon as the phone lines and wiring have been installed for all the necessary equipment. The dispatchers need to move because of all the leaks in the city hall roof.

A five-year contract with the city of Poplar Bluff for policing and resource officer services on the campus for 70 hours a week was approved. The Poplar Bluff Police Department will have an officer on the campus from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays.

Three Rivers will pay the city $100,000 annually for the policing services.