Chiefs & Fire Department Personnel
cc: Randolph County EMS Staff

For the past 2 weeks, we have gotten anywhere between 50-60% of our normal oxygen allotment from our oxygen vendor. I reached out to the vendor yesterday, and they confirmed there is a systemwide shortage of oxygen resulting from increased demand for medical gas.

To attempt to ease the burden and prevent us from running completely out, they are trying to increase the amount of deliveries, although what they bring during delivery will be reduced. At our ES Headquarters and at some of the EMS bases this week, we completely exhausted our spare oxygen supply.

I know this shortage is also effecting you as our EMS crews may not be able to replace your tanks as normal because they are running low or may be almost out of "D" cylinders on their unit or at their base.

In the mean time, if you are getting low on oxygen, you may need to pull any reserve tanks off Engines or other vehicles that might not be first out to medical calls until the supply returns to normal. Please use as much of each tank as possible before you switch out so we aren't returning half full cylinders to the vendor for refill.

If you are getting close to running completely out, let us know and we will do what we can to use our resources as effectively as possible.

Our average daily COVID/Flu Like Impression calls have doubled in the past 10 days, and our hospitals are being pushed to capacity again, so I do not anticipate this to resolve as soon as any of us would like.

Thank you for all you do and stay safe!

Jared K. Byrd
Deputy Director
Randolph County Emergency Services
336-318-6913 - Office
j<https://webmail.co.randolph.nc.us/owa/redir.aspx?C=_lS4KW4awkCheTfDcKwjCXlI5Am5w9AIRY1VOeGd4ykeJfHxBwkPzFy1BlfAcN2m11N6-9Xm3rc.&URL=mailto%3ajkbyrd%40co.randolph.nc.us>ared.byrd@randolphcountync.gov

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