A boost to Clay County’s ambulance fleet with the first of three new ambulances arriving, purchased using state funds.
The county used CDBG grant money and an estimated $1.3 million from the state to purchase new ambulances, as the county only had two ambulances in its fleet. Clay County EMS Director Andy Hall said receiving the first new ambulance is the dawn of a new day.
“Oh man, it’s been a big help on us,” Hall said. “It’s been a big relief that we don’t have to worry about, you know, the maintenance of the ambulances was keeping us down. I had blew my maintenance budget for the last two or three years by double and triple sometimes, because of the old ambulance we had some ages on them.”
Hall said he expects the other two ambulances to arrive in early November. Hall said the new ambulances not only provide dependability but will also vastly improve response times.
“We never can get there quick enough,” Hall said. “You know, that’s just the name of the game, but when we say yeah, we got somebody coming, they will be there to you, it makes you feel a lot better, you know, about your service and the way your people work.”
Hall said what has impressed him the most is the technology that is in the ambulance.
“With these trucks, there is only a small hole that you can look back to the back,” Hall said. “Well, we got one that has a camera that the can driver actually keep an eye on his partner back there. It doesn’t record or anything like that, so there is no HIPAA violation or anything. Basically, all it is just so the driver can keep an eye on what’s going on in the back, so he knows if he needs to pull over and come back there and help.”
Hall said the EMS department also used the grant to purchase new lifesaving equipment for all four ambulances in the fleet. Hall thanked Representative Kelly Keisling and Senator Ken Yager for understanding the county’s need and pushing for the funding.
