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Tuesday May 9, 2017 Edition
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Bristol Rescue Dedicates New Ambulance To Eleanor Scully


photo by provided

photo by provided

Tuesday May 9, 2017

By Cookie Steponaitis

Bristol Rescue is staffed entirely by trained community volunteers, provides Emergency Medical Services to the five-town area and responds annually to approximately 700 calls. Whether it is a car accident, fire with injuries, a resident that has fallen, lost hiker or any other of the hosts of emergency needs of the region volunteers are there 24 hours a day.
    There are intense demands placed on the volunteers, vehicles and equipment used responding to emergencies and treating and transporting people. Recently, Bristol Rescue  christened a new ambulance to add to the existing two ambulances (1998 and 2006). The newest addition comes at a cost of $225,000 not including the equipment inside.  New England Ambulance Billing in Vergennes was instrumental in helping Bristol raise the needed funds. Funds for the newest vehicle came from subscription fees and plans paid by local families as well as fundraising events like the July 4th Parade Annual Coin Drop. “With twenty to thirty members, Bristol Rescue is very busy staffing the 12 hour shifts that keep the organization available all year long. We have a group just finishing up an EMT course,” explained Bristol Rescue member Ronnie Sunderland. “The course started in November and concludes in just a couple of weeks. I think it would surprise the Voice readers to know that our EMR’s, EMT’s and AEMT’s are involved with training a lot of the year. We are one of only a couple fully volunteer rescue squads in the area. Our dream would be to add 10-12 new volunteers and srengthen the pool of committed and trained people meeting this need in the community.”
 The plates of the new ambulance will bear the name of Eleanor Scully who is an older and incredibly dedicated volunteer at Bristol Rescue. A retired nurse who resides in Lincoln, Scully pulls on average four shifts a week and in addition to being one of the senior members with over twenty plus years of service.
    While the emphasis at the gathering will be on the newest piece of life saving equipment the real story is about the commitment, training and service of a group of individuals who are always there to answer the call and respond with skill, heart and help when the community needs them. They are the faces we see when we dial 911 and seldom think about during the demands of a busy day and life. Yet, they are there training, giving, serving and anyone interested in joining this group are encouraged to reach out to Bristol Rescue President Ron Sunderland at (802) 388-7052 or simply ask for him at Rosie’s Restaurant where he has been for the past 46 years. Sunderland is like many who have joined rescue and got into it because he wanted to help people and customers at Rosie’s if there ever was the need. Over twenty-five years later Sunderland continues to serve. Bristol Rescue could use help with drivers or people wanting to learn Emergency Responder skills. Donations can also be made to Bristol Rescue at P.O. Box 227, Bristol, Vermont.


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