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Residents React to Ambulance Company Closure

Residents React to Ambulance Company Closure - Monday, March 8, 2010 at 5:00PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Monday, Mar 8, 2010 @ 06:00pm EST
Mount Carmel, Northumberland County-

People in one part of Northumberland County are outraged over the abrupt closure of their ambulance company. Officials announced Thursday the American Hose Ambulance Company in Mount Carmel would be shutting down.

Robert Miller, of Mount Carmel, said, "It's a concern for myself, for one. I have an aortic aneurism, and if something should happen to that, who's going to come get me to the hospital in time? I mean, I could die waiting for an ambulance to get here."

In published reports, council members have said they will rely on the borough's secondary provider, Area Services, based in Shamokin, for continued coverage.

But paramedics we spoke with say asking any company to cover such a large geographic area raises some red flags.

Leo Mirolli, an advanced life support coordinator, and one of about 15 emergency services personnel left jobless by the change, recalled a scenario that happened recently.

Mirolli said, "There were 3 calls at one time in the borough of Mount Carmel. They have 3 ALS units on for the area. So if all 3 ambulances are in Mount Carmel, well then who's covering Shamokin?"

Resident Charles Walker noted Mount Carmel's aging population, and the fact that his wife survived a heart attack thanks to a quick response by the local ambulance.

Walker noted, "The thing of it is, they say we can get by with secondary service. But wait until it happens to one of them. They will see the dire need for an ambulance service here."

Laid off E. M.T.'s and paramedics here blame mismanagement by Special Events E. M.S., the company that managed American Hose the past seven months, for the closure.

Mirolli explained, "I'd ask for equipment. I'd be running low on a medication, or running low on a certain supply, and it would be like, 'You don't need that. Where are the ones I just got?'"

A recent inspection of the ambulance service backs up those equipment and supply claims. Now residents here just want the situation resolved, and quickly.

Miller added, "I hope they can get something straightened out and get it back in service again."

We could not reach Tom Alleman, president of Special Events E. M.S., for comment Monday afternoon.

American Hose ambulance personnel say they're open to meeting with borough council members to discuss the future of the company.
 


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