The South Lamar County Rescue Squad is about one-third of the way to a fundraising goal that will purchase a new electric cot for ambulance runs.
In an effort to provide the best possible services to the towns of Millport and Kennedy and surrounding areas, the department is looking to replace a manual patient cot in its primary ambulance with an electric one, said department spokesman Bruce Patrick.
“The two people operating the patient cot have to lift the weight of the patient and the cot to get the cot into the roll-to-load position,” Patrick said, “These electric cots raise and lower by electric motor. This action takes the strain of lifting a heavy patient off of the ambulance crew an saves on back injuries to the rescuer.”
Thanks to donations from the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund and residents, the department has raised about $4,685 toward the purchase, but the electric cot will cost $15,000.
Patrick said SLCRS is one of few all-volunteer, non-profit rescue squads operating free ambulance services in Alabama. As a non-profit, it does not bill patients for services and operates on donations, grants and fundraisers. It has done so for 40 years.
“We started this free emergency ambulance service in 1974 and will continue to operate as long as we have the support of our local people,” Patrick said.
Patrick said the department serves Millport and Kennedy residents as well as churches and businesses in the area. The department will provide a receipt that can be used to deduct the donation off their federal income taxes.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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