ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — When injuries and illnesses occur where the terrain is rugged, St. Charles County Ambulance District [SCCAD] Paramedics are now better equipped to respond thanks to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
The group recently awarded SCCAD a grant for a utility terrain vehicle [UTV], which will be used to reach patients who suffer medical emergencies in areas difficult to access with traditional ambulances.
The UTV is specially outfitted to hold a stretcher and other life saving medical equipment used on 911 calls. In total, the equipment is valued at nearly $25,000. The UTV was officially presented to the District on July 13 at the Firehouse Subs restaurant in St. Charles.
“Between the Katy Trail, Great Rivers Greenway and an expansive network of paths located within numerous St. Charles County Parks, there are many miles of off-road areas within our community where medical emergencies occur with some regularity,” said SCCAD Chief Taz Meyer. “These areas are being used with increasing frequency by runners, bicyclists and others, and the equipment donated by Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation will undoubtedly result in reduced response times to medical emergencies.”
The UTV donated by Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is the second in SCCAD’s fleet. Having an additional vehicle will enable the District to position units at multiple stations along the trail network. In addition to emergency calls in hard-to-access areas, UTVs are also utilized by Paramedics with large-scale events such as the County Fair and O’Fallon Heritage & Freedom Fest.
“It feels great to be able to give back to those who put their lives on the line every day to protect us,” said Larry Webb, Firehouse Subs Franchisee.
In 2005, the Firehouse Subs founders established the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation with the mission of providing funding, life-saving equipment, and educational opportunities to first-responders and public safety organizations. Through the non-profit 501(c)(3), Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has granted more than $25 million to hometown heroes in 46 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, including more than $778,000 in Missouri.