Ambulance service continues at VGCC (The Daily Dispatch, Feb. 28, 2013)
By Allie Rae Mauser
The Daily Dispatch, Henderson, NC
www.HendersonDispatch.com
February 28, 2013
Emergency Medical Services programs at Vance-Granville Community College recently received a much-needed gift from the county. And it’s not your ordinary gift.
Randy Owen, coordinator and instructor of Emergency Medical Services Programs at the college, was handed the keys to a surplus ambulance from the Vance County Fire and EMS department.
After nine years of use, county commissioners considered the ambulance surplus property. During their board meeting in early February unanimous agreement was given to provide VGCC with the surplus ambulance to aid emergency medical training.
Owen said the ambulance will allow for convenient, effective and frequent mock drills.
“This is a huge asset to the program,” Owen said.
For the first time VGCC’s EMS programs have access to their ambulance and will not have to rely on borrowing one from EMS departments in surrounding counties.
“The ambulance will allow for practical hands-on training,” said Stelfanie Williams, president at VGCC. “They have access to the equipment they need, and we can ensure they have it there on the ready.”
The donation comes at a pivotal time for the college, which has seen enrollment in EMS courses more than double over the past three years.
According to Owen, enrollment increased from about 80 people in initial courses three years ago, to approximately 128 in 2012.
Summer classes beginning in July are estimated to bring about 80, and about 100 are enrolled this spring semester.
“When the economy goes down, people going back to school goes up,” Owen said. “It’s going up from 80 to approximately 180 in 2013 over the past three or four years.”
Vance County’s benefit comes in part because of the frequency with which the college trains prospective employees.
“All my personnel have been trained from VGCC,” said Harold Henrich, fire chief of Vance County. “I have about 80 full-time, part-time and volunteer personnel.”
Above: Harold Henrich, Vance County Fire and EMS chief, hands Randy Owen, coordinator and instructor for Emergency Medical Services Programs at VGCC, the keys to a surplus ambulance. Others pictured (from left) include Dale Fey, dean of continuing education; Deborah Brown, VGCC board of trustees chairperson; Stelfanie Williams, president of VGCC; Tommy Hester, Vance County Board of Commissioners chairman; and Jerry Ayscue, Vance County manager.
Reprinted with permission of The Daily Dispatch.
