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EMS agency turns ambulance pink for breast cancer awareness

“The breast cancer awareness ambulance is our way of showing support for our citizens who have been involved in the fight against breast cancer,” officials said

By Mike Elswick
Muskogee Phoenix

MUSKOGEE COUNTY, Okla. — There’s a reason behind the change of traditional colors and markings that have gone on one of the newest ambulances put into service by Muskogee County Emergency Medical Service.

Mechele Cruz, community relations manager for the service, said a new pink highlighted ambulance is designed to heighten awareness of breast cancer. It deviates from the traditional red, white and blue markings on the other ambulances.

“The breast cancer awareness ambulance is our way of showing support for our citizens who have been involved in the fight against breast cancer,” Cruz said. “As health care professionals, we know that awareness and early detection is very important in survival for people who have breast cancer.”

Paramedic James Garvin, who is one of the staffers assigned to the pink highlighted truck, said it has met with positive support in the county.

“We’ve had a lot of comments,” Garvin said. “People like the fact we’re showing support and participating in breast cancer awareness.”

Cruz said officials with the countywide service have hoped to include the breast cancer awareness design into the fleet.

“This is something we’ve wanted to do for some time,” she said.

The cost for having the decals and detail work for the breast cancer vehicle is in line with what the county has paid for in the past for the red, white and blue ambulances. Cruz said the county puts that work out for bid.

The service operates seven EMS stations with about 15 ambulances distributed throughout Muskogee County.

The service employs about 142 staffers who are medics, communications staffers and who work in the business office, Cruz said.

Copyright 2017 Muskogee Phoenix

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