Ambulance district gets new wheels

by JILL MAHON

Enterprise reporter

In order to stay up to date and provide the best possible service, the South Lorain County Ambulance District has purchased two new ambulances.

Trustees began researching new models a year ago after deciding to replace two older units. One from 1994 had an irreparable rust corrosion problem while the other from 1989 was simply too outdated and removed from modern technology. According to the director of the South Lorain Ambulance District Pat Wilkinson, timing was perfect for the new purchase.

"Costs would have gone up considerably over the next two years," Wilkinson said. "Economically, now was the time to do it. We are very fortunate that we have taxpayers that believe in us and what we do," Wilkinson said.

As part of their search, the equipment committee took a trip to a fire chief's convention in Columbus and also spent time in the Horton Factory in Grove City where they got a first hand look at the manufacturing process to determine what type of vehicle would be best for the department.

Ultimately, the decision was made to trade the 1994 unit in for a brand new 2008 Chevy C4500 from the PFund Agency of Lower Burrell, Pa. Squad members are more than excited to begin using the unit, Wilkinson said, which boasts such features as high-grade HVAC, lighting inside and out and more adequate work space. Rochester Township mayor and chair of the SLCAD equipment committee said the traded unit will find a new home in Beaver Run, Pa., where it will be used to help teach defensive driving for safety services.

"It teaches you to look ahead and think of what that other person is going to do," Spicer said.

The company offered the department a good price on the second new unit because of the first purchase, which will be smaller and more versatile than the other squad cars. The 1989 unit it will replace has been donated by the department to the Lorain County Joint Vocational School's Diversified Health Occupations program in honor of former JVS superintendent Bill Randall. It will give them the opportunity to use an actual working ambulance; the one the program currently has does not run.

"It will serve its purpose very well in teaching students at JVS the actual use of an ambulance," Spicer said.