. Post 764 Ambulance Service .

VFW Post 764 Ambulance - Founded in 1963 -    300 Municipal Dr.  McMurray, PA Non-emergency: 724-941-4700

Post 764 Ambulance Hisory       EMT Blogs

Ambulance Attendant's Prayer When I hear that ambulance bell And I begin to run, This is the prayer I offer up To the Almighty One From frozen ears and frozen feet To the elderly so pale From the scalded face and scalded hand To the baby's first wale From one person who is quietly ill To an accident's noisy band Lord grant that I can fill the need That this trip will demand. By David Faloon, EMT Life Member

Post 764 Ambulance Hisory   Since 1963, transportation for medical emergencies occurring in Peters Township and surrounding areas has been furnished by the VFW Ambulance Service, which celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2003.     The new ambulance facility was recently completed at a cost of $650,000. More than 70,000 calls have been answered over the years and more than 2,500 annually. We utilize up-to-date special training and new equipment to provide you with the best service to the Peters Township Community. .

Post 764 Ambulance Hisory: The following article appeared in the 40th Anniversary Banquet Program HISTORY OF THE PETERS TOWNSHIP AMBULANCE SERVICE Peters Township was different in 1963. Car dealers, pizza shops, furniture stores, shopping centers, and fast food restaurants were not to be found. Stonehenge, Colony Manor, Quail Run, and the Cidarlands were cow pastures and woods. There was only one traffic light in the township and you could still get a Bar-B-Que at the Hollywood. Medical Emergencies were handled by the three man police force and the volunteer fire department.      This close knit rural community was stunned, during the summer of 1963 by a senseless tragedy. A drunk driver crossed into the oncoming lanes of traffic on route 19 near the Upper St. Clair High School and ended the lives of a Peters Township fireman and his two teenage children who were returning home from his birthday party. Public outrage was compounded by the fact that ambulances were not sent from neighboring communities because of jurisdictional disputes. The headlines proclaimed "Children Die Because of Lack of Ambulances."     Former Post Commander Ralph Barton  in front of the first ambulance operated  by VFW Post 764 in 1963   The newly formed Veterans of Foreign Wars was considering buying uniforms with their limited resources, but after this accident, they felt that the community would be better served by forming an ambulance service. Under the leadership of the late Ralph Barton, then Commander of the Post, a used 1954 Cadillac ambulance was located at the Ocepek Funeral Home in Library, PA. Mr. Ocepek, wanting to get out of the ambulance business, came to an agreement with the VFW to turn over the ambulance for future payment considerations, although it is reported that Mr. Barton used his personal cash to guarantee payment.     The first official trip was run on Labor Day, 1963 and was a wreck on Route 19 in which 5 patients were transported. The service was originally staffed by seven volunteers who provided 24 hour a day, 7 day a week coverage to the community. The ambulance was initially kept at a garage on McMurray Road near the present Middle School. The calls were taken by the Barton family or the Bethel Police, who dispatched our police at that time.        VFW 764 Ambulance group next to the Peters Township Municipal Building     Subsequently, the garage went out of business, and the ambulance was kept at Bob McMurray's house while a garage that was donated by the Citizens Water Company was moved to an area beside the original Municipal Building, less than 100 feet from our current facility. As this Municipal Building became the Library in the mid-1970's and the Township needed additional space, the current Post home on Valley Brook Road was purchased and renovated into a two bay garage and crew quarters.           As Peters Township and the Service grew, additional space was again needed and the support of Peters Township was outstanding. The Peters Township School District donated an acre of ground to the Township, which in turn entered into a long term lease with the VFW for the intent of building a facility for the Service. A community fund raising effort resulted in over $60,000 being raised for the new facility. The new home of the Peters Township VFW Post 764 Ambulance Service was officially opened on October 5, 1997.     As requests to expand our coverage area were received, the Lawrence area of Cecil Township was added in February, 1964, and subsequently, a 1958 Cadillac was purchased from a funeral home in Washington. This purchase was made possible thru the implementation of a subscription plan. The post members and their wives canvassed the community, door to door, soliciting members at the rate of $5.00 per year. The subscriptions were placed on a mailing basis in 1966, and have since been computerized, but still remain the basis of our financial support. Currently, more than 50% of the Township residents are subscribers.      A number of years ago, Peters Township Council initiated a precedent setting program of providing free emergency subscriptions to the senior citizens of Peters Township. We have also received tremendous support over the years from our local service organizations such as the Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Newcomers Club, Garden Clubs, local churches, as well as individuals such as Ron Baker, who sponsored the initial benefit Golf Outing which has become an annual event.      The first new ambulance, a Pontiac, purchased from Pfund Superior Sales, was acquired in 1965. Since then the ambulances have been replaced every four to five years. We currently have three fully equipped ALS ambulances with state-of-the-art equipment. The roles of the VFW and the ambulance crew have also changed over the years. What started as a service project of the VFW, run solely by its members, has expanded into a community wide effort of men and women who have given countless hours to help on calls, training and fund raising.         Cover of the 20th Anniversary Banquet Program The Service is now run by a Management Committee that oversees the day to day operations through two Supervisors and an Office Manager. The difficulty in providing adequate daytime coverage was addressed in March, 1988, by the hiring of paid staff members to assure the coverage. At the same time, an Office Manager was hired to process the increased paperwork involved with payroll, scheduling, subscriptions, and billings. We have also adopted mutual aid agreements with all our neighboring services to respond if assistance is needed. The emergency medical needs of the residents also benefit by the cooperative effort of the Service, Peters Township Police Department and the Peters Township Fire Department which operates an ALS quick response vehicle under the ambulance service's license.          Training and patient care has always played an important role in our service. Members attended one of the first State Ambulance Attendants programs in the early 70's, the forerunner of the EMT program. During the mid-70's, Washington Hospital initiated a Paramedic program and 5 of our members (Lorraine Jackstis, Joan Kernahan, Bob McMurray, Sally Neubert, and Virginia Rauch) became among the first Paramedics to serve in Washington County. We have also been strong supporters of the EMT and Paramedic programs and all members must maintain certification. Our members have also spent many hours training the community in CPR and First Aid in addition to speaking to community groups on safety and health related issues. The Service also participates with the Police Department in providing quick response AED coverage to the community. For the over 300 men and women that have served with our Service over the last 40 years, it has been a gratifying and fulfilling experience.     From the original group of men, using a used hearse/ambulance and trained only in first aid, we now have a staff of Paramedics and EMTs using the latest equipment including LifePak 12s, capnography, and surgical airways to provide quality medical care to the thousands of patients we render assistance to each year. Over the years we have had experiences and developed friendships that we will never forget.          We have become an integral part of our community, participating in many activities such as the Special Olympics, football games, community day, parades, homecomings, blood drives, elementary school presentations, and many more events that required numerous dedicated hours. It takes a special person to do this job. We quietly and professionally do our job, not letting the emotions show until the quiet times. Often it's hard to be so intimately involved with a patient for a short time, and never know what happened to them; but we must believe that because of what we have given of ourselves, the patients who relied on us over 60,000 times during the last four decades, had someone there who cared when medical help was needed.   To help continue the work of the Ambulance Service, The Almanac and VFW Post 764 partner a benefit Golf Classic every year at Rolling Hills Country Club in McMurray, PA. For more details see the Golf Classic webpage or phone 724-941-3358 for more details.   .

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Bundle Up! By Tom Balistreri EMT-B Peters Township, VFW Post 764 Ambulance Service       During the holiday season almost everybody's time is spent concentrating on others, buying gifts, baking cookies, preparing meals and so on.  After spending the past few months concentrating on others, now it's time to focus on yourself and your health.    As an EMT at the Peters Township VFW Post 764 Ambulance Service, I have a couple of ideas, things that I practice when it's cold and snowy, that just might help keep you and yours happy and healthy all through the winter season.    Bundle up!  Stuff the kids into those giant puffy winter coats, and send them on their way.  Kids take their lead from parents and grandparents, so when going outdoors suit up and stay warm, no matter what your age.  Be it long trips to the grocery store or even just the short run to clean off an icy car, bundling up is priority number one.   Hats are definitely a must.  You lose a great percentage of your body heat through the top of your head, so wearing a hat will be sure to keep that heat were it needs to be inside you!    Always wear gloves or mittens.  Your fingers and hands are very susceptible to frost bite.  Come to think of it, so is your nose, adding a scarf to the attire might not hurt either.    We have all heard it a million times "be careful when shoveling snow," well good advice always bears repeating.  The heavy lifting and repetition of shoveling snow can put great strains on your heart, not to mention what it does to your back, so again be careful when shoveling snow.     "Remember to pace yourself" Did you know it can be dangerous to sweat too much when you're outside in the cold?  When you're bundled up during all the physical labor and activity you will sweat, even if it's 32-degrees outside.  Whether you are shoveling snow, sled riding or even building a snow man if you begin to perspire, stop, take a break and drink plenty of fluids.  Going indoors and waiting for the perspiration to stop is best. Perspiration is a reaction to the body's core temperature rising and you sweat to cool down.  You're outside, it's cold and windy and you are now wet from perspiration and your body is trying to cool down that is definitely not a good combination. When doing activities outside in the cold, be it work or play, remember to pace yourself, that's the best way to keep from perspiring.    Sometimes all the precautions in the world are not enough to keep a cold, flu or illness away, so if you start feeling under the weather be sure to seek treatment as soon as possible.  The sooner you start treatment the sooner you'll be back on your feet.    Remember to have fun this winter and stay warm!  Tom

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Spring has sprung! By Tom Balistreri EMT-B Peters Township, VFW Post 764 Ambulance Service      Every year it's the same thing, the winter weather blows through and beats up our yards.  So once the weather starts to get a bit warmer, we head outside to survey the damage and get ready for the spring clean-up.    Each and every spring my yard is littered with broken branches.  So off I go to pick up all those sticks that are now covering my landscape.  Picking up sticks means a lot of bending over; good for the yard but bad for the back.    All this movement can put serious strain on your spine.  So here are a few tips that might save your back from soreness and injury this season (that is if your yard is anything like mine).    "Bend with your knees" Try not bending straight over, instead bend with your knees this will help reduce the amount of strain you put on your back.    Here's a rule of thumb, if it looks too big and heavy - it is.  Cutting the fallen limbs down to a manageable size is a safer and easier way.    If there are trees that need attention in your landscape minor trimming is easy enough to do.  Another rule of thumb ­ don't attempt to cut anything that is higher than you.  In other words, if you have to reach over your head you should NOT be attempting to make that cut.    If the trees are large or damaged and need to be removed, best to leave this to professionals.  In my time as an EMT I have seen more than enough injuries related to homeowners attempting to work on trees themselves.  The professionals have the proper equipment and the experience; leave the big stuff to them.    "Leave the big stuff to Pros" Speaking of proper equipment, remember to wear safety goggles, gloves, boots and any other appropriate safety equipment when using lawn tools.  All it takes is one misstep or one small stone and you could be in serious trouble.  Remember the last place I want to see you is in the back of my ambulance.    Make sure all of your tools are in proper working condition.  Saws, mowers and other yard maintenance tools have been sitting all winter and should be oiled, greased, tuned up etc for the spring and summer.    Finally, if there are just too many sticks to pick up, recruit your  kids or grandkids, at least that's what my father-in-law and I do.  They are the perfect height and they have yet realize that it's work. Until next time -- Tom