Public Safety Director Larry Thomason says he is looking forward to when a second ambulance service starts answering calls in Danville this Wednesday. ‘’I think it’s a big plus for the community to have two very competent, qualified groups there in case of emergencies,’’ said Thomason during an interview with VermilionCountyFirst.com news.
Presence Pro Ambulance Service will join Carle’s Arrow Ambulance Service in providing coverage for calls in Danville beginning Wednesday, February 1st.
Director Thomason notes it has been a long process getting the Pro Ambulance Service ready to begin operations. ‘’They have been getting a lot of the licensed attendants, making sure the information is forwarded to us. We have been doing our checks on them, making sure they meet the criteria to be onboard, according to the City ordinances we have of who should be onboard each ambulance working – and the number of rigs they have to have in operation,’’ said Thomason.
And Thomason adds both companies will be operating as private businesses. ‘’You know for over 36 years the City of Danville has only had one ambulance service that was a private carrier that came in that handled the needs of this community. Now we’re looking at two looking to work in that regards. They again are subject to their own responsibilities. The City has very little impact on it other than making sure the agencies involved meet certain criteria – alarm times and what have you when they are dispatched to a scene. But I think it’s a big plus for the community,’’ says Director Thomason.
Thomason says the city has basically been divided in half with each ambulance service operating within a designated zone. He says the zones are identified roughly by the Norfolk and Southern and CSX Railroad tracks that split the city. On the first day of each month the services will switch response areas.
Arrow Ambulance will continue to operate from its base at 812 North Franklin Street and Pro Ambulance will answer calls from their base at 809 ½ East Voorhees Street. It was August 1st of last year that the Danville City Council approved ordinance changes allowing the second ambulance service.
