2025
May 6, 2025 Board of Directors Election
PUBLIC SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT- SAFETY CLOUD ACCESS
Posted 1/15/2025
Safety Cloud® Press Release
Date: November, 2024
From: Trinidad Ambulance District
Contact: EMS Chief Gabriel Moreno|gmoreno@tadems.com|(719) 846-6886
Regarding: Trinidad Ambulance District Sending Drivers Digital Alerts to Improve Road Safety
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Trinidad Ambulance District is Now Alerting Through Safety Cloud®
Trinidad, CO – In an effort to enhance road safety and protect first responders and roadway workers, Trinidad Ambulance District is now integrating HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud® digital alerting into their vehicles. This collision prevention service enables the delivery of real-time alerts to Colorado drivers when emergency services are active in the vicinity.
Safety Cloud boosts driver compliance with Move Over laws by dispatching real-time notifications when responders are en route or on-scene. This digital solution effectively enhances lightbars and sirens with additional in-vehicle notification, thereby minimizing the likelihood of collisions with responders.
Safety Cloud’s digital alerting delivers immediate warnings to drivers of the proximity of emergency vehicles or road workers. This preemptive measure is proven to significantly reduce collision risks by up to 90%, safeguarding both first responders and the motoring public.
Despite Colorado Move Over laws necessitating drivers to decelerate and change lanes when approaching active emergency vehicles, delayed or non-compliant reactions persist. Safety Cloud addresses this issue by providing up to 30 seconds of preemptive warning, facilitating safer responses.
The alerts are accessible via the Waze navigation app and Apple Maps, compatible with mobile devices and integrated into the dashboard of many modern vehicles. Safety Cloud alerts are also available on the infotainment screens of millions of vehicles, specifically 2024 and newer models of Volkswagen vehicles and 2018 and newer models of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram through the EVAS (Emergency Vehicle Alert System) feature. HAAS Alert is actively working on broadening the alerts to more platforms and vehicles.
“Adopting Safety Cloud adds a layer of protection for our crew, facilitating their operations with enhanced safety,” expressed EMS Chief Gabriel Moreno. “By providing drivers with additional time to respond appropriately, this service establishes a safer environment for both our crew and surrounding motorists. We strongly recommend drivers to utilize Waze and Apple Maps, both free-to-use apps, to benefit from these vital road safety alerts.”
For more information about HAAS Alert, visit www.haasalert.com.
PUBLIC SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT
Posted 1/15/2025
Trinidad Communications Center Announces Change to Emergency Notification System
The Trinidad Communications Center is changing from the CodeRED alert system to RAVE/Smart911. This alert system is for all of Las Animas County. While every effort was made to transfer all phone numbers from the CodeRED system to the RAVE/Smart911 system, there may be some phone numbers that did not transfer.
WAYS TO SIGN UP
Scan the QR code ABOVE
Fill out the enclosed form
Online at https://www.smart911.com/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=trinidadco
What is Rave Alert/Smart911?
Rave Alert is a free mass alert system enabling governments, organizations, institutions and schools to quickly and reliably send information and emergency alerts via phone call, email and text message.
What kinds of Emergency Alerts go out?
Rave Alerts go out for various reasons:
- Critical Situations: Critical situations may include fires, floods, or police emergencies.
- Targeted Situations: If a situation affects only a certain area, for example, a water main break or utility outage, only those geographically located in that area will receive a targeted message.
- Non-Critical Situations: Non-critical situations may include road construction and closures.
What happens with my information?
The information you provide to Rave Alert/Smart911 will only be used for the purposes of providing information to you, such as emergency alerts, information and communications.
Your information is not shared, sold, or made available for use by outside individuals or entities.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Posted 1/8/2025
Coming Soon: Mobile Integrated Health – Community Paramedic Program preparing to launch in Las Animas County!
The Trinidad Ambulance District is preparing to launch our Mobile Integrated Health: Community Paramedic (MIH-CP) Program, designed to enhance access to care, improve health outcomes, and reduce unnecessary emergency room visits.
WHAT IS THE MIH-CP PROGRAM?
Our Community Paramedics are highly trained healthcare professionals who provide care beyond the traditional ambulance setting. This program bridges the gabe between emergency care and long-term health management by offering:
- Health Assessments: Monitoring chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory issues.
- Follow-up Care: Ensuring a smooth transition from hospital to home.
- Medication Management: Helping patients understand and manage prescriptions.
- Preventative Services: Vaccinations, screenings, and health education.
- Referrals to Resources: Connecting patients to primary care, mental health services, and social support.
WHO CAN BENEFIT?
The program is open to individuals in our community who may face challenges accessing traditional healthcare, including:
- Patients with chronic illnesses
- Individuals recently discharged from the hospital
- Seniors and those with mobility limitations
- Residents in rural or remote areas
WHY IT MATTERS
Our MIH-CP Program is here to make healthcare more accessible and personal for everyone in Las Animas County. By meeting patients where they are, we aim to reduce unnecessary 911 calls, prevent hospital re-admissions, and promote healthier living.
HOW TO ACCESS THE PROGRAM
If you, or someone you know, could benefit from our services, please CONTACT THE TRINIDAD AMBULANCE DISTRICT at (719)846-6886 or visit our website at www.tadems.com. Referrals can also be made by healthcare providers or family members.
TOGETHER, LET’S BUILD A HEALTHIER, STRONGER COMMUNITY.
TRINIDAD AMBULANCE DISTRICT: CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!
COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT 2024
————notice of COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ hearing————-
FOR THE service plan amendment OF THE
TRINIDAD ambulance DISTRICT
January 28, 2025
10:00am
200 E. 1st Street, Room 201
Posted 1/8/2025
Dear Property Owner:
This letter is to notify you that there was filed with the County Clerk and Recorder for Las Animas County an Amended and Restated Service Plan (“Amended Service Plan”) for the Trinidad Ambulance District (“District”), which is available for public inspection. The District has existed for several decades and recently obtained a Community Integrated Health-Care Service Agency license from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which will allow the District to provide additional care to chronically ill and homebound patients through skilled community paramedics. Therefore, the proposed amendment converts the District from an ambulance district to a health service district. The District will continue to provide ambulance and EMS service. The District also seeks a name change to the Trinidad Health Service District.
By Order of the Board of County Commissioners for Las Animas County, a public hearing to consider the Amended Service Plan will be conducted by the Board of County Commissioners as follows:
| LAS ANIMAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS |
|
| Hearing Date and Time: | January 28, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. |
| Location: | Las Animas County Courthouse Room 201 200 East 1st Street Trinidad, Colorado 81082 |
The purpose of the hearing is to consider the Amended Service Plan and to form a basis for adopting a Resolution approving, conditionally approving, or disapproving the Amended Service Plan. The hearing is open to the public and residents and property owners within the District are afforded an opportunity to be heard under the rules of procedures as may be established by the Commissioners.
The District currently assesses a tax levy of 2.907 mills on the total assessed valuation of taxable property within the District as authorized by the voters. Such mill levy will not increase as a result of this Amended Service Plan and cannot be increased above the current rate of 2.907 mills without further voter approval.
In accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 32-1-203(3.5)(b), C.R.S., requests for exclusions cannot be considered.
Sincerely,
Gabriel Moreno
Executive Director/EMS Chief
Trinidad Ambulance District
FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE: Trinidad Area Health Association dba Mt. San Rafael Hospital vs Trinidad Ambulance District 2022-District Court Findings and 2024-Court of Appeals Opinion
2024
October 17, 2024 Trinidad Area Health Association dba Mt. San Rafael Hospital vs Trinidad Ambulance District 2024-Court of Appeals Opinion
We have moved into our new location at 13840 Hwy 350, Trinidad, CO 81082!
OFFICE (719)846-6886 FAX (719)846-8431
BILLING COMPANY – EMS/MC BILLING, P. O. BOX 429, LEWISVILLE, NC 27023 OFFICE (800)814-5339
SOUNDOFF SIGNAL INSTALLED INTO VEHICLES
Hear his insights on the difference it makes in their operations!
Trinidad Ambulance District (TAD) has been obligated loan funds in the amount of $3,207,000 by the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development through the USDA Communities Direct Loan Program for the renovation/construction of a new ambulance facility additionally, the State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund Program has granted a $750,000 grant to defray project costs.
The first link in the emergency response chain is dispatch. Receiving information regarding location, call type and patient, is pivotal to a quick and accurate response. In 2010, a new building was erected at 939 Robinson Avenue, Trinidad, Colorado to house Trinidad Ambulance District. No thought was given to radio reception at that time. Due to topographic obstacles (specifically two mountains between TAD’s current location and the tower located on Bowen Hill), radio reception is intermittent at TAD. There have been times when TAD radios haven’t received a call and dispatchers had to call a crewmember’s personal cell phone. It is extremely important to note that the projected new location for TAD has no obstructions to prevent reliable radio reception. It is literally “line of sight” from the radio towers to the proposed new facility.
TAD provides emergency medical services to Las Animas County, Colorado: the only exception being the Kim School District. Las Animas County encompasses 4,775 square miles creating emergency response times ranging from minutes to over an hour. Containing a population of approximately 15,000 people, the county is considered super-rural by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Large parts of the County are considered wild land and frontier. Well known for its outdoor activities, including camping, hunting, and fishing which draw many visitors to the area. The State of Colorado recently opened Fishers Peak State Park, its newest park and the State’s second largest at 19,200 acres. It is located immediately outside the city limits of Trinidad, Colorado. To effectively respond to emergencies in the park and other extremely remote areas of the county, TAD has procured specialized vehicles for remote patient extrications. The current facility doesn’t have enough space to park these vehicles and they must be kept at a remote location. This creates a delay in response when those vehicles are needed.
Mt. San Rafael Hospital (MSRH) located in Trinidad is a Level 4, Critical Access Hospital. Beyond emergency transports directly to MSRH, TAD also provides Inter-Facility Transfers from MSRH to facilities offering higher level care for certain patients. Those facilities range from 85 up to 190 miles away. To save wear and tear on four-wheel drive ambulances, TAD purchased a vehicle specifically to transport patients to facilities north of Trinidad.
As Las Animas County is so rural, a Quick Response Team (QRT) has been established in conjunction with local volunteer fire districts. Each QRT member is educated through TAD’s Emergency Medical Technician course concluding with certification from National Registry Emergency Medical Technicians, a U.S. certification agency covering pre-hospital medical providers. All Nationally Registered Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians are required to complete Continuing Education hours every year. Trinidad Ambulance District provides those educational opportunities for any qualified person wishing to partake. Additionally, TAD works directly with the Las Animas County Sheriff’s Department, Trinidad Police and Fire Departments on Joint Task Force for rapid response to mass casualty, active shooter, and other such devastating events.
Trinidad Ambulance District’s purpose in the community goes beyond responding to emergency medical calls and transporting patients to facilities with higher levels of care. Community education is a mission that TAD takes very seriously. The District conducts CPR/First Aid classes for the public and local businesses. Through those classes an average of 600 American Heart Association CPR/First Aid cards are issued to individuals annually. Emergency Medical Responder courses are taught to high school juniors and seniors.
As a forward-thinking organization, TAD anticipates area growth thus the necessity for providing emergency services to a larger population, expanding its fleet necessary for effective response to emergencies, expanding the type of transport available e.g., helicopter and expanding educational opportunities to a larger number of people and organizations. For these plans to come to fruition, TAD requires expansion. The District’s current location at 939 Robinson Avenue, Trinidad, Colorado consists of 6,540 square feet building which includes crew living quarters, training facility, administrative offices and fleet garage sitting on approximately one acre which does not allow for expansion in any direction. The facility no longer has sufficient space to house all fleet vehicles, some are stored at another location. When conducting any type of education program, parking is a serious issue especially if fire trucks are involved.
In 2016, TAD purchased an 11-acre parcel located at 2001 E. Main Street, Trinidad, Colorado with the intent of building a new facility that would provide for the needs of expansion. Three years later, during the planning phase of the project, property at 13840 Hwy 350, Trinidad became available for purchase. Although the acreage was less, roughly 3 acres, the location a contains 15,000 square foot building and space to expand, if necessary, in the future. It became clear that remodeling an existing structure from 15,000 square feet to 20-25,000 square feet would be much more cost effective for the District. In November 2021, TAD purchased, including exchange of the property at 2001 E. Main Street, the property at 13840 Hwy 350, Trinidad. TAD’s architect has provided a schematic design of the building remodel, a water tap has been approved by the City of Trinidad, a Special Use Permit has been acquired from the Las Animas County Commissioners and the Request for Proposals process completed.
In conclusion, this project will offer many benefits to residents and visitors of Las Animas County. The ability to receive and send radio communications from the Dispatch Center without limitation is the most important benefit. The location is ideally located with rapid access to calls within the City of Trinidad, improved response times to calls on and off Interstate 25 in addition to populations to the east of Trinidad. Parking for employees and the public will be expanded allowing for a higher level of safety especially when hosting educational programs involving larger vehicles such as fire trucks. The increased square footage of the facility will more adequately house TAD’s employees and fleet as well as its education program while allowing for future growth.
2022
November 23, 2022 Trinidad Area Health Association dba Mt. San Rafael Hospital vs Trinidad Ambulance District – District Court Findings
2021
April 28, 2021 4:00-4:30pm MST, 939 Robinson Avenue, Trinidad, CO. Public Meeting regarding District USDA Grant Application.
2018
2018 Rescue Task Force Multi-Agency Training
2019
2019 Resolution Concerning Online Notices
THE COLORADO SUN – SEPTEMBER 24, 2019
The Trinidad Ambulance District has added the “Lucas Device” to its equipment list on the ambulances. This device is a state-of-the-art chest compression device that performs perfect, uninterrupted, CPR. Training with the Trinidad Fire Department is underway! Special thanks to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, EMS Section, for the matching grant that made the purchase of these devices possible. It’s just one more way we are keeping up with the latest, research driven, EMS guidelines. (Left to Right: Matt Comden, John Velasquez, Anthony Trammel, Andrea Brody, Alison Sanchez)