Page:Brunswick 100 Years of Memories.pdf/158

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First it was stored behind City Hall. Other places

followed: back of Weil Brothers service station, and Billy Stroupe's service station. Once the ambulance was garaged in the alley off First Avenue, behind the Dr. West property (now Ivan Huffer). Care's cab drivers were among those who volunteered to drive the ambulance. The Ambulance Company operated at several locations until the present home was built at Virginia Avenue and West Potomac Street. The land was bought in 1960. Many fund-raising campaigns were held. Ground-breaking for the new building took place in 1961. The Sigler brothers, Dewey, Donald, Paul, and Tom, did the block and brick work, with other members and non-members volunteering. (Wayne Hill received the only serious injury, a knee injury.) When the basement was completed, the ambulance was stored there. By 1966 it went into its permanent home at street level in the BAC home. This company serves a large area, including Loudoun County, Virginia, Washington County, Maryland, and some areas of West Virginia in addition to the Brunswick vicinity. The services extend to the Frederick City limits. BAC and Frederick County have a mutual aid agreement, which was an informal "assistant" agreement with Lovettsville, Virginia, until the early 1980's, when a formal agreement was written and signed. At present forty members have basic training. Red Cross Advanced training was begun in the early 1970's. Emergency Medical Training was given by Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute of the University of Maryland. This requires 104 hours training followed by the Emergency Medical Services test for certification for EMT. EMT IV requires 20 additional hours of training. CRT requires 200 additional hours, and EMTP, 61 more hours and a test by the State. For Rescue, including water, silo, bridge, and mountain, extra training is required: 24 hours for basic, 24 for intermediate, and 24 hours for advanced. Some special equipment has been acquired. In 1971 a boat was given. In November 1974 the Brengle family of Ijamsville, friends, and neighbors presented a boat in memory of Brengle's son who drowned in the Potomac following a boat accident on Easter Sunday. Advance rescue, basic fire-fighting apparatus, boat operations, and farm machinery accidents are other areas classes deal with. The organization has helicopter service available through the state.

A Junior membership program began in the mid-1970's. Applicants are required to be at least16 years of age. Several active members have belonged since being junior members. Steps for development of responsibility begin with riding in the ambulance to learn if they are "cut out" for the type of work required. Next, after ECT (Emergency Care Technician) training is passed, one may be qualified to ride as second attendant. Finally, with EMT and ECT-2, with experience and the chief's evaluation, one may qualify as a first attendant. Members on duty are required to live no more than five minutes away from the BAC building. Those who do spend their duty night at the Ambulance building in order to take calls. Records for 1989 show that the volunteers responded to 737 ambulance calls, and the squad responded to 101 calls, and the utility was used on 27 calls. A new diesel squad truck was placed in service on March 8, 1989 at a cost of $110,000. Officers for 1990 are Tom Smith, president; George Lowery, chief; Susie Nicol Kyle, secretary; Terry Keller, treasurer; Denny Moore, financial secretary; Donnie Grams, vice president; and directors Andy Smothers, Mark Taylor, and Bob Rauch. The strenuous requirements make the rest of us feel safer with such competent, trained emergency workers in our midst. S - Ruby Cauley -Tom Smith W-MMM

BRUNSWICK VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE AUXILIARY The Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance Auxiliary was organized in 1960 with the following 15 charter members: Mary Lucas, Margaret Barker, Edna Care, Jacqueline Hill, Audrey Williams, Betty Ebersole, Anna Taulton, Louise; Powers, Dorothy Cullen, Dorothy Moss, Hazel Stroupe, Rosie Moss, Wanda Porter, Charlotte Barnhouse, and Ernestine Phillips. By 1961, membership had increased to 73. Until the Ambulance Company building was erected in 1961, Auxiliary meetings were held at Brunswick City Hall. The purpose of the organization is to raise funds for the building expenses and to purchase equipment. Activities toward that goal include bake and candy sales, dinners, carnivals, bingo, Christmas card sales, and family portraits. St. Patrick's Day and Christmas parties are occasions for fellowship. Anyone age 16 or older is

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