Staff report
The Rowan Rescue Squad now has a four-wheel drive ambulance in its fleet of emergency vehicles.
And the new ambulance has a plaque honoring Arnold Chamberlain, current chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners.
The plaque installed on a service bay notes Chamberlain’s support for emergency services during his two terms on the board of commissioners.
Rescue Chief Coyt Karriker presented the honor, which was a complete surprise to Chamberlain, who leaves the board Monday night. He chose not to seek re-election.
Other commissioners attending the event included Vice Chairman Chad Mitchell, Tina Hall and Jim Sides, as well as Raymond Coltrain and Carl Ford, who were elected Nov. 4.
The ambulance actually combines a body off an existing unit with a Chevrolet chassis purchased from Modern Chevrolet in Winston-Salem. Select Custom Apparatus of Falkland in Pitt County did the retrofit.
Assistant Chief Eddie Cress said the four-wheel drive ambulance will make it easier to deal with some emergencies and will help get the medical personnel and equipment closer to the patients.
The squad will now be able to go through muddy fields, areas around the lake and snow and ice.
The squad depends on ATVs to reach patients who are injured off-road, including those from hunting mishaps and ATV accidents.
Buying the ambulance has been in the planning process for more than a year.
In addition to honoring Chamberlain, the squad also presented two awards.
Jessica Karriker of Cannon Farm Road was honored as Rookie of the Year.
Karriker, in her first year with the squad, completed extensive training and gained her paramedic certification.Justin Small of Salisbury won the Squad Man of the Year award.
Small has been with the squad for less than three years and has also taken extensive training. He recently received his paramedic certification.
Karriker and Small are full-time employees of Rowan County Emergency Services.
Cress noted that with the EMS employees working as volunteers for the Rescue Squad, it’s a win for the county and a win for the citizens.