Pulaski County adds sensory emergency kits to ambulances

PULASKI COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) - With new sensory emergency kits, Pulaski County Public Safety is helping to ease the burden for those who may get overstimulated or have a language barrier during a crisis or emergency event.

Mike Garnett, the assistant director of EMS, says these sensory kits help make the communication between first responders and people much easier.

“In communicating with us, they feel more comfortable about the environment that they’re in. They try to help both the patient, family members, guardians and even our providers to be able to better function in their patient assessment,” said Garnett.”

These tool kits have all sorts of items like a pain chart, headphones, sunglasses and even fidget toys to help patients get out of a nervous state.

“They’re able to keep those items so that when they get to the hospital, they still have that continuum of control, that continuum of comfort that we can pass on to help with their care at the hospital,” said Garnett.

The sensory kits can be used for adults and children.

Garnett also says he is grateful for the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors and all the businesses that helped donate the items to make the kits a success.

Copyright 2024 WDBJ. All rights reserved.