By Greg Jordan
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — No, your eyes are fine. That’s really a pink ambulance, and it’s getting the message out during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and beyond.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so Monday was the first day that paramedics used the Bluefield Rescue Squad’s pink-trimmed ambulance to answer calls.
The public has been noticing the unique ambulance raising awareness of breast cancer, and its reception as been “very positive,” said paramedic Shawn Miller.
“We actually released it at the hospital up in Bluefield Regional and we got a lot of positive reviews,” he said. “A lot of the hospital staff, a lot of the doctors came out and they were all very, very pleased with it.”
Paramedic Katelyn Dunford said that the pink-trimmed first responder has been getting plenty of looks when she’s driving it.
“I’ve been driving all day and people stop and stare,” she said. “I think today’s officially the first day we’ve been using it. I know it’s been out to a couple of ballgames. We’ve done all the ball teams around here.”
“It’s pretty awesome, Miller added. “It’s super-unique. It’s the first ambulance I have seen that is completely dedicated to breast cancer awareness. It will be run pretty much full time all through the month of October.”
Chief Tracey Wright said the pink ambulance is a new addition to the squad’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month efforts. The squad members are now wearing shirts featuring Breast Cancer Awareness pink.
“We’ve been doing the shirts for probably about 10 years,” Wright said. “This year we just wanted to do something a little bit extra to raise awareness for women’s health. Everybody loves it.”
GOPromo Print & Graphics in North Tazewell, Va. gave the ambulance its pink, Wright said. The pink trim is now the ambulance’s permanent feature. After October, it will still be used for calls and promoting women’s health needs.
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