Katie Coseo
Santa Rosa County Lifeguard Ambulance Services donated an ambulance for the PJC Paramedic and EMS programs.
The Lifeguard service is owned by Deborah and John Roche who service Santa Rosa County.
“John called and asked, ‘What can we do for your program?’” explained Sandy Hartley, the department chairman of Dental and Emergency Services.
Although the EMS and Paramedic programs at PJC have recently acquired their ambulance simulator, which helps students video tape and critique each others performance, “This doesn’t move,” said Hartley.
The real ambulance will be driven on and off campus with students to get the feel of practicing in a moving vehicle and performing life saving measures, such as putting an IV in.
This ambulance was repaired with new tires, fresh paint and new decals before PJC faculty excitedly received it.
The Lifeguard Ambulance Services will even continue to keep up with the ambulance maintenance for free. Hartley explained that ambulances, “They get a lot of abuse,” with sudden stops and running through traffic, keeping an ambulance in tip-top conditions.
Dan Lee, the Program Director of the Paramedic program, and Joe Diamond, the Program Director of the EMS program, along with Sandy Hartley, all have had experience with their ambulances breaking down during a run.
“Unit 12 to rescue-‘Go ahead’-Unit 12 is on fire again,” is just an example of what can go wrong with an ambulance.
The ambulance will also be servicing students off campus with Diamond who teaches a few courses away from PJC for EMT training.
An ambulance usually costs over $100,000, “Oh easily,” said Don Lee, Program Director for the Paramedic program.
Excited for the possibilities the new ambulance will give to students, the faculty were grateful for the donation from the Lifeguard Ambulance Services.
“We get the wet bar in, everything will be good,” joked Lee.