By Jonathon Wheeler
Watertown Daily Times
WATERTOWN, N.Y. — The Town of Watertown Ambulance services officially received a $50,000 state grant, which the department used to purchase a new rig to transport patients.
The grant was presented by Assemblyman Scott A. Gray on Wednesday.
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“A new ambulance is not necessarily a luxury. It’s the difference between the rig being ready to go out the door and one that’s worn out,” he said. “The EMS system is measured in minutes; we all know that right now. But to the people that it serves, it’s measured in lives saved.”
Gray said that volunteer services are undergoing “tremendous strain” in both fund operations and getting volunteers to respond to calls.
“It’s an opportunity, we always look at, make sure that we’re funding our first responders, whether it’s fire departments or EMS services, make sure that they have the equipment necessary to provide the services to the communities that they’re working in,” Gray said. “I think it’s a basic obligation, on my part, as an elected official, to make sure that every opportunity that I have is to provide resources to public safety and to the first responders within the community.”
Town of Watertown board member Joanne McClusky thanked Gray for the funds needed to help purchase the new ambulance.
“This ambulance is critical to the town residents and beyond,” she said. “We appreciate being the beneficiary of these funds.”
Rolly Churchill, president of the board of directors for the ambulance service, said the new ambulance is a way to get the best tools for the staff to work with.
Executive director for the ambulance service Scott Lennox thanked Gray for the grant and said “it’s gone to good use.”
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