March 4, 1982
BVAC Purchases New Ambulance
Last week the Blanco Volunteer Ambulance Corps members made their selection of a new ambulance for Blanco. The unit is a wheeled Coach modular ambulance with a Chevrolet 454 Engine and chassis. The unit was purchased from Summers Ambulance and Coaches in Duncanville, Texas.
Total cost of the unit including radios will be $50, 118 delivered in Blanco. Additional equipment for the unit will come to another $4,000 plus a heart monitor and defibrillator, which costs $6,000. When the unit is completely outfitted it will afford Blanco County the first advanced life support unit and will be run by the Blanco Volunteer Ambulance Corps members.
For the past eight or nine years, the ambulance corps has been seeking funds and planning for the replacement of the 1973 Dodge Hi-top van now in use. Four years ago $7,500 was expended on a radio dispatch system and paging system for the corps.
“With this past ambulance corps barbecue, “ commented president Mary K. Irwin, “the corps members felt we had enough for a down payment on a new unit.”
Of the $50,000 price tag, the corps will make a $15,000 payment with the balance being borrowed from Aaron Posey at the Blanco National Bank.
Contributions for the ambulance fund have come from memorial donations, fund raising drives, revenue sharing funds from the City of Blanco and donations from members of the community. The memorial contributions were the suggestion of a Pat and David Granberg when they made the first memorial contribution three years ago. Mrs. Melanie Felps was the first to ask for donations to the corps in memory of her husband Wiley Felps.
Funds raised for and ear marked for the new ambulance have been placed in savings accounts with the Blanco National Bank and University Savings of Blanco. Interest accumulated over the years has added to the fund.
Various pieces of equipment needed to equip the ambulance cover the cot/stretcher for the ambulance to stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs.
The corps plans to keep the current unit and use it for backup and for transfers. Equipment from that unit will stay with the van.
Anyone wishing to make a contribution toward the ambulance can do so by mailing checks to Blanco Volunteer Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 632, Blanco, Texas 78606. Anyone wishing to purchase a piece of equipment can contact any corps member as to certain prices. Persons or businesses purchasing equipment will have their name placed on the equipment and pictures with the equipment when it arrives in the Blanco County News.
The new unit should be in Blanco by the end of the month.
More from Remember When.