West River Ambulance recently received a much-needed upgrade from their 1992 rig. A 2014 Ford/AEV Type III Custom Conversion rig with a 6.8 L gas engine dual wheel chassis -- now completes the ambulance fleet.
West River Ambulance maintains three ambulances for emergency responses within the town of Hettinger, Adams County and Mutual Aid to surrounding communities and into South Dakota.
Funds to purchase the $150,000.00 ambulance came from a $50,000 State Grant, $25,000 WRHS Foundation Fund, 75,000 WRHS General Fund and the trade-in-value of the 1992 rig valued at $5,500.
Emergency Medical Services Manager John DeArmond said the ambulance service is currently looking for individuals who would enjoy providing services as ambulance drivers, Emergency Medical Responders or as Emergency Medical Technicians. “Drivers along with the other members of the medical team make it possible for the EMS providers to devote their time to the patient.”
“Jim Long, Administrator of WRHS noted, “Thank you to the State of North Dakota for the grant. Thank you to all who made charitable contributions to help meet the needs of our EMS operation. Thank you to our volunteers who staff the service. Emergency Medical Services is an important part of any community and I am pleased that our staff and volunteers have what they need to provide this necessary and quality service.”
Ambulance Terminology & Requirements:
Ambulance Driver – Drivers need a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record. West River Ambulance provides CPR certification and emergency vehicle driving training for all ambulance drivers.
EMS – Emergency Medical Services, the professional and practice of delivery emergency medical care and transportation.
EMT – Emergency Medical Technicians. Commonly refers to an EMT-Basic. EMTs provide patient assessment, stabilization and transportation, and receive a base training of at least 160 hours before certification.
Paramedic – An EMT with advanced training in patient assessment and treatment, including advanced airway management and medication administration. The base curriculum for a paramedic is approximately 2,500 hours, the equivalent of a two-year technical college degree.
Emergency Medical Responder (First Responder) – EMS providers trained for at least 40 hours in advanced first aid, including anatomy, trauma and childbirth.
03/23/2015
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Community Relations
West River Regional Medical Center
1000 Highway 12
Hettinger, ND 58639-7530