News Briefs

Emergency helicopter landings to disappear

Following Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s certification as a trauma hospital May 1, the way Longboat Key treats its trauma patients is changing.

Both ends of the island are now served by a trauma hospital because patients on the north end are already served by Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, which also has trauma certification.

“Nowhere else has a trauma hospital on both ends of their community,” said Longboat Key Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi.

In most instances, helicopter landings on the Key for emergency trauma transportation will disappear.

“We’ll still call for a helicopter if traffic is backed up in season,” Dezzi said. “But that’s the only time you’ll see helicopters on the island.”

Village parking study: No problems

Town Manager Dave Bullock says a parking issue Longbeach Village residents brought to the attention of town staff last year does not exist. 

Villagers expressed concern that cars parked on both sides of their streets, mainly during season, create potential problems for vehicles, including fire trucks, that might not be able to drive the streets when responding to emergencies. 

At the request of Bullock and the Longboat Key Town Commission, the Longboat Key Police Department conducted a parking study from November through April to monitor on-street parking and determine the number of vehicles parking overnight along Village roads. 

Inspections by both police and Longboat Key Fire Rescue, which drove the streets during busy lunchtime and dinnertime hours, also found no issues of cars inhibiting the trucks’ ability to drive down the roads.

“I don’t see any need to conduct additional daily inspections based on the data contained herein,” Bullock wrote to commissioners in a May 4 email. 

Town prepares for health fair

The town will host an employee health fair that’s also open to residents and Key business employees from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 21, in Town Hall Commission Chambers, 501 Bay Isles Road. 

There will be free health screenings available to all employees, their spouses and residents of the town who have Florida Blue (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida) insurance. Those who don’t have Florida Blue insurance can participate in the health screenings for $39. 

Screenings are included for diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure and more, with immediate results presented onsite. Tips on health-related topics such as nutrition, diet and fitness will also be available, and experts will be onsite to answer questions. 

Town employees who participate in the health screening can earn points toward two additional days off. 

For information, contact Human Resources Manager Lisa Silvertooth at 316-1999.

Summer workshops canceled

Per tradition, the Longboat Key Town Commission has approved the cancellation of the July and August regular workshops and the August regular meeting during a time when many of the town’s residents, including commissioners, are away. Commissioners also authorized Town Manager Dave Bullock to take emergency action over the summer if there’s a state of emergency on the Key when not enough commissioners are on the island to make a decision for an emergency meeting.