STICKNEY, S.D. — A newly founded ambulance service fundraised to purchase an ambulance cot and other supplies for their new ambulance, raising $30,000.
The ambulance will be an addition to the Stickney Fire Department, which wasn’t equipped with an ambulance, nor EMTs, before, reported The Daily Republic.
Residents of the community donated money at a soup and sandwich dinner, and participated to a silent auction, pie auction and live auction.
Currently, a patient from the town of Stickney has to wait for an ambulance to come from Plankinton, where the closest EMS agency is located, 10 miles away from the town.
Cherie Sauvage, president of the medical operation, said 15 people committed to becoming EMTs. “We are excited to add this to our community. Seconds count.”
Fire Chief Jeff Sauvage said before they only had trained first respoders but no EMTs. When they finally had some people taking classes and committing to become EMTs, they decided to buy an ambulance for the department.