BRATTLEBORO — Rescue Inc. has placed into service a brand-new, state-of-the-art ambulance that will deliver improved safety for responders while operating more efficiently, and with less pollution, than older units in the organization's fleet. Rescue invested $132,132 to acquire the new vehicle, which is a 2011 Osage Super Warrior model built on a General Motors 3500 chassis.
It was purchased from Cromwell Emergency Vehicles of Clifton Park, N.Y., and manufactured by Osage Ambulances of Linn, Mo.
Funding came from a $25,000 challenge grant from the Thomas Thompson Trust that was matched with more than $30,000 from Rescue's annual appeal, membership subscriptions, memorials and general contributions, plus $5,000 from a bequest and $43,000 from the organization's reserve funds. In addition, a loan of $29,000 was applied to the purchase.
Mark Considine, Director of Operations, credited two Rescue staffers with researching and developing the specifications for the ambulance: Drew Hazleton, a captain and paramedic, and Christopher Fellows, an EMT intermediate.
Rescue Inc. is an independent non-profit organization. It serves a total of 15 towns - 13 in Windham County and two in New Hampshire. In additional to handling more than 5,000 emergency responses per year, Rescue annually trains about 1,000 people in various skills including first aid and CPR, promotes child safety through its Windham County Safe Kids Coalition, and operates a Technical Rescue Team that provides high-angle and swift-water rescue services.