By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
There is a new rig in town.
Tucker County EMS has received a new Ambulance. In a ceremony held on Tuesday, March 5th at Station One in Parsons, members of the Tucker County Ambulance Authority, area municipal government, EMS and the public assembled to await the arrival of the new Ambulance. “Our new ambulance, number 52, should be arriving from the factory momentarily,” Tucker County Ambulance Authority President Dennis Filler said.
Filler relayed in his speech the history of ambulance use, from the Anglo-Saxons in 900 AD to the first US based hospital service in Cincinnati in 1865 during the waning days of the Civil War. Filler also outlined the use of ambulances in New York at Bellevue Hospital in 1869. “In 1870, their ambulances responded to 1400 emergency calls,” Filler said. “Just a little bit over the number that we provide on an annual basis here in Tucker County.”
As part of the ceremony, the new ambulance was ran under a spray of water from a Parsons Volunteer Fire Department fire engine in what was called a “Dowsing Ceremony”. “Some ambulance crews dowse their ambulances with an IV bag from the rig that is being replaced,” Filler said. “Somehow that just didn’t seem right for Tucker County.”
Following the Dowsing Ceremony, Pastor Julie Davis of the First United Methodist Church gave the invocation and blessing for the new ambulance. As a part of her presentation, she read an excerpt from Psalm 91 which she said was a Psalm of protection. This was followed by a prayer.
Dylan Oliveto, Regional Account Manager for Atlantic Emergency Solutions was also on hand representing his company at the event. As part of the presentation ceremony, Filler presented Oliveto with a check for the ambulance. “The ambulance authority is now in debt for a brand new ambulance,” Filler quipped. “But we appreciate the fine job that you have done and can’t thank you enough.”
Filler went on to thank the members of the Tucker County Ambulance Authority board both past and present for making it possible to purchase the ambulance. Filler credited Treasurer Chris Davis with sourcing competitive financing. The Tucker County Commission was also thanked by Filler in his speech for the recent transfer of Hotel-Motel funds which allowed for the Ambulance Authority to prepay the first year’s payment. EMS Director Amanda Simmons was also thanked by Filler for her hard work in procuring the new Ambulance. “I want to thank our EMS Director Amanda Simmons for doing the legwork finding us the opportunity to be able to buy and receive an ambulance in about six months at a very extremely fair and competitive price,” Filler said.
Filler said that the average time on a new ambulance construction and delivery runs 18 months to two years. The Tucker County ambulance was delivered in six months. “It is doubtful that we could replace this ambulance today for what we contracted it for and for those of you who do not know, the average delivery time for an ambulance is 18 months to two years,” Fuller said. “The fact that we could locate and procure one in six moths, that’s remarkable.”
Filler closed his speech by thanking the residents of Tucker County for their support. “I’d like to thank the citizens of Tucker County for participating in the process of selecting the look of our new ambulance and being supportive in all of our endeavors to modernize our equipment, for their donations and allowing us to better serve the residents and visitors to Tucker County,” Filler said.
Tucker County EMS Director Amanda Simmons gave some short comments following Filler’s speech. Simmons thanked the Tucker County Commission and the Tucker County Ambulance Authority board, as well as the Parsons Volunteer Fire Department for hosting the event and area Fire Departments for their support and cooperation. Simmons also thanked the EMS crews for their hard work and dedication. “This last year, the growth in this agency is due to the crew members that have stepped up, taken the helm and said, ‘We’re going to make Tucker County better then its ever been before,’” Simmons said.
Simmons said the current fleet includes two 2012, a 2014 and a 2016 model year ambulance. The new ambulance will be a template for future ambulance models for the county, according to Simmons. Simmons said the fleet drive thousands of miles a month serving Tucker County. “This is something that has been much needed throughout the years,” Simmons said.
The event also highlighted remarks from the Tucker County Commission delivered by Commission President Mike Rosenau and remarks from Davis Mayor Al Tomson, as well as from Thomas Mayor Jody Flanagan and Parsons Mayor Bruce Kolsun. Tucker County Director of Emergency Management Kevin White gave remarks at the ceremony, as well.
Following the remarks, the ceremony ended with a “Push Back Ceremony” in which representatives of EMS pushed the new ambulance into the EMS station for the first time. The ceremony signifies placing the new rig in its home and has its tradition in the days of horse drawn emergency equipment. “So the Push Back or Push In Ceremony is a tradition that dates back to the late 1800s,” Filler said. “Fire crews used hand drawn pumpers and horse drawn equipment. Upon returning to the station following a fire call, the horses could not easily back the equipment into the station. The horses had to be disconnected from fire equipment and the fire fighters would then push the equipment back into the bays themselves. So Tucker County EMS has adopted this tradition and will do a modern version of this.”
Following the Push Back Ceremony, the ambulance was driven back out of the station bay and opened for the public to view. Oliveto sat inside the new ambulance to answer any questions those viewing the rig might have.
