First Posted: 1/27/2013
It has that new ambulance smell.
The Pittston Township Ambulance Association added a new vehicle to its fleet last Saturday, allowing two ambulances to be on the road simultaneously if needed.
Don Hudzinski Sr., president of the association, said the $179,315 ambulance was fully paid for with tax revenue.
This is the first time we’ll have two vehicles on the street, Hudzinski said.
The association goes on 600 to 700 calls a year, Hudzinski said, and has 25 paid and volunteer members.
The growth in the township, primarily the Walmart Supercenter area, and new industrial parks, including CenterPoint East and West, have caused a greater amount of traffic through the township. And with more traffic often comes more accidents.
The 2012 Ford E450 chassis was manufactured by PL Custom of Manasquan, N.J., and was purchased through Spitler Sales of Williamsport.
The new vehicle and the association’s 2004 International are similar in appearance and physical layout.
This will allow EMS crew to use either truck without additional training on the location of the medical equipment and supplies.
The vehicle will now need to be properly stocked with the necessary medical supplies and equipment along with the installation of radios/communication equipment.
Once that is completed, the state Department of Health will inspect the vehicle and issue a license. It is anticipated to have the new vehicle on the street and in service within the next 30 days. Fully stocked, the cost of the truck will be in excess of $200,000.
Once licensed, we will have two vehicles in service and will utilize them as needed, Hudzinski said.
They will rotate the old and new ambulance and won’t have to rely on neighboring communities if one is being serviced or repaired.
Hudzinski said the new apparatus is a benefit to anyone who passes through the township.
It increases our reliability and keeps us out on the road and on calls, he said.
The current station on Bryden Street only houses one vehicle, so the other vehicle will be kept at the fire company’s Suscon station. Hudzinski hopes one day the facility will be expanded at Bryden Street so both ambulances can be stationed there.
The association services an area that’s 17 square miles with more than 3,700 residents. Between 60,000 and 70,000 people travel through the township daily, across two Interstates (81 and 476) and a state and federal highway. There are three industrial parks, two expanding commercial districts, numerous residential areas, a juvenile detention center and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.