The Big Moose Ambulance Company, Inc. (BMAC) has announced that a year-long fund raising campaign has been successful and has enabled the organization to place an order to purchase a new ambulance.
The Officers and Directors of BMAC, President Sarah Dew, Vice President Steve Baker and Secretary/Treasurer Roger Pratt have stated.
“It is gratifying that the Big Moose, Twitchell, Stillwater and Beaver River and surrounding communities have been so generous in their contributions to the new ambulance project,” said BMAC President Sarah Dew.
According to BMAC personnel, the current ambulance, a two-wheel drive vehicle purchased in 2001, needed to be replaced with a safer, more reliable, four-wheel drive vehicle with updated emergency medical equipment.
Considerable research had been done to determine the requirements for a new ambulance.
The new PL Custom ambulance, which is a Ford F-450 4 X 4 chassis with a Gold Classic style body has been ordered from Specialty Vehicle Sales Corp and is expected to be delivered in the fall of 2013.
The cost of the new ambulance will exceed $155,000.
BMAC will apply $70,000 of its savings to the project and has raised over $90,000 of new funds.
BMAC is a separate organization from the Big Moose Fire Department and provides, year-round, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and remote rescue operations in Northern Herkimer County from West of Moss Lake to the Lewis County Line. BMAC service area includes the hamlets of Big Moose Lake, Big Moose Station, Twitchell Lake, Beaver River and Stillwater.
The BMAC annual operating budget is about $15,000 and primarily covers vehicle and equipment maintenance costs. Donations are always accepted to help defray operating expenses.
BMAC revenue sources are donations and if patients have it, insurance recovery.
The $70,000 the organization has committed to the project are proceeds that are the result of careful management of operating costs.
Contributions may be mailed to: Big Moose Ambulance Co., Inc., c/o Treasurer, 1449 Big Moose Rd. Eagle Bay, NY 13331.
