Ambulance service needs four-wheel drive

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Robert Rosin and I am a part of the support staff for Boundary Volunteer Ambulance Service.

The ambulance service was established in the early 1960s and has proudly served Boundary County since that time. Boundary County is the most northern county in Idaho.

Boundary Ambulance Service currently operates entirely with a volunteer staff that devotes their efforts into helping the community. The Boundary Ambulance provides the community with intermediate and basic life support care, rescue/extrication and emergency medical standby at public events.

In addition to helping the community, Boundary Ambulance provides transport to local hospitals in Sandpoint and Coeur d' Alene.

Boundary Volunteer Ambulance Service is a non-profit, 501C-3 tax exempt ambulance service. We are in need of an ambulance that has 4x4 capabilities as well as many other supplies to furnish these vehicles.

At this time I am submitting a request for a donation of $500. I am hoping you will be able to help our volunteer ambulance service with the partial cost of this vehicle and the needed supplies and equipment.

The funding for the budget is generated through billing for services rendered, and any excess after expenses has been allocated for the purchase of a new facility to house our operations, as our current facility is inadequate for our needs.

At this present time, the maintenance of our current fleet has increased in the last three years due to the rough terrain and the extreme road conditions of our area. We have inquired into loans for the purpose of obtaining a 4x4 ambulance, and we are currently unable to provide dependable revenue to obtain loans at this time.

The ambulance service has never owned a 4x4 ambulance. Currently Boundary County consists of many unpaved roads and driveways. Due to the snow, ice and mud on these roads, a 4x4 ambulance would greatly increase the safety of EMTs and patients being transported during these conditions.

Often a patient will be placed in a 4x4 vehicle of an EMT volunteer to transport the patient to the ambulance. They then transfer the injured person into the ambulance in order to get them to the hospital.

These methods are extremely risky to the injured person's safety and could create a huge liability for the EMT in regards to handling of patients and could prove fatal.

We currently have two ambulance units located centrally in Bonners Ferry, and one ambulance unit located 15 miles north to cover the northern half of the county. Purchasing a four-wheel drive ambulance would also allow the service to expand.

By placing one ambulance in the southern part of the county, where emergencies have steadily increased, we could decrease response times as much as 30 minutes. With the purchase of a four-wheel drive ambulance, we can better achieve the response time and the safety of the injured person and the EMTs.

Thanking you in advance for your time and all you can do to help us at the Boundary Volunteer Ambulance Service.

Robert Rosin