By David L. Dye
The Herald, Sharon, Pa.
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. — The Shenango Township Volunteer Fire Department’s ambulance service will officially become the third EMS agency on West Middlesex’s 911 rotation.
The addition was unanimously approved by the members of West Middlesex Borough Council at their meeting Tuesday evening.
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The Shenango Township VFD’s ambulance service will join McGonigle Ambulance Service and Elite EMS, which were already on the borough’s 911 rotation.
The addition came following a presentation made during the council meeting by West Middlesex school Superintendent Raymond Omer.
Omer said after a couple recent medical emergencies at the school district, he spoke with the district’s school resource officer, Nicholas Schneider, about some delays in getting ambulances to the district.
The issues involved, particularly a lack of manpower and limited EMS services, affect communities across Pennsylvania, Omer said.
However, it was found the Shenango Township VFD’s ambulance service was not on 911’s rotational list of EMS agencies for the borough of West Middlesex.
Even though Shenango Township’s ambulance service could still be dispatched if no other services were available or if it was specifically requested, the rotation allows 911 operators to automatically check the availability of certain agencies that are listed for a municipality.
Omer said he sought additional information from the Mercer County 911 dispatch center and had discussions with county Emergency Management Director Frank Jannetti.
That research determined it would be beneficial to the borough if Shenango Township’s ambulance service was added to West Middlesex’s EMS rotation at the 911 center, Omer said.
“Is it possible for this board to add Shenango Township’s service to that list?” Omer asked the council members.
The request generated some discussion among the council members and those in the audience.
West Middlesex Mayor Stacey Curry — who does not vote, except to break ties — said she agreed with Omer, and added that, as a mother, she would want to ensure the fastest response possible if her child was in an emergency.
Council member Robert Rankin said he has experienced situations where ambulances needed to be called in from Ohio or the New Wilmington area due to a shortage of ambulances, and that adding Shenango Township’s service to the borough’s rotation would be a “good backup.”
David Garon, chief of the Shenango Township Volunteer Fire Department’s ambulance service, was among those in the audience.
Garon was able to share some information, such as how it would cost nothing to the borough or residents to add the township’s service to the rotation.
When asked by Curry if there would be any contracts or “intergovernmental entanglements” involved if the service was added to the rotation, Garon answered there would not be.
Eventually council member Cristal Bollinger made a motion to put Shenango Township’s ambulance service on the borough’s rotation, which was seconded by Rankin and approved by the members present.
Following the council members’ vote, council President Tim Webster said the 911 center would be contacted to inform them of the addition, while Omer said he appreciated the vote.
West Middlesex fire Chief Richard Garrett, who was among those in the audience, said he agreed with council’s vote but said residents concerned about fast response times by EMS could learn first aid in the meantime.
“About a year ago, the fire department offered a free first aid class over two days, and we paid for everything. Only three people came,” Garrett said.
“In most medical emergencies, first aid is key.”
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