The two ambulances did not have the minimum required equipment and supplies as set by the state.

Danny Harbinson, the Region F Coordinator for the state Emergency Medical Service office in Black Mountain, cited the Rowan EMS for the violation.

Harbinson said the violation was not a significant problem and is frequently found during inspections throughout the state.

About a month ago, the regional office conducted what is called a surprise”ramp” inspection.

During those events, the inspectors go to a hospital emergency entrance, in this case, Rowan Regional Medical Center.

The inspectors then check ambulances coming to that hospital, once they’ve handed off their patients.

Harbinson said all of the Rowan EMS units coming to the hospital passed the inspection.

Later in the day, the inspectors then went to the EMS base on Old Concord Road and inspected units there.

Harbinson said some equipment was missing from two spare ambulances at the base station.

Inspectors check for such items as basic medical equipment, suction devices, oxygen, splints and dressings.

Harbinson did not recall which items were missing from the two Rowan units. He was on vacation this week and did not have immediate access to the report.

He said that typically, personnel will take items off the back- up units instead of getting it from the proper place. They borrow it with plans to replace it and then forget.

“It’s an industry problem,” he observed.

While he doesn’t view the violation as significan, Harbinson said the state want to ensure that all EMS units, even back-up vehicles, are properly equipped and ready to go.

Harbinson gave Rowan officials 14 days to fix the problems and returned last week to check. He found no problems.

Rowan Emergency Services Director Wayne Ashworth said there was never any danger of an improperly equipped ambulance responding to a call.

“Before a truck goes into service, it is checked and restocked,” said Ashworth. “It doesn’t go on the road otherwise.”

None of the items missing from the units could have resulted in life-threatening problems, he added.

One of the ambulances, which has major mechanical problems, has been taken off line, and the second backup unit is now fully equipped.

The county has 10 vehicles, with five emergency ambulances normally on the road. One vehicle is a non-emergency unit, and four others serve as backups.