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Winona FD receives ambulance upgrades

By MORGAN AHART 2 min read
The Winona Fire Department recently upgraded its ambulance with a power cot and matching power load system allowing the department to more efficiently and safely assist residents experiencing a medical emergency. While funded in part by a $40,000 Ohio Bureau of Workman’s Compensation Safety intervention Grant, several community organizations and community members, who came together for a demonstration of the new equipment Monday. Pictured from left in the first row are Butler Township Trustees Tom Sanor and Paul Lease, Butler Township Fiscal Officer Jill Amos, Butler Township Trustee Matt Hall, Salem Eagles Vice President Dennis Erdel, Salem Eagles President Randy Fast, former Salem Eagles President Ron Sanor Jr., Nancy Sanor; second row, Safety Officer Jim Conser, Fire Chief George Brantingham, firefighters Sam McCracken and Garrett Brantingham, Cruisin’ Crew President Gene Johnson, Cruisin’ Crew members Lorna and Butch Waugh, Salem Amvets Post 45 Trustee Eddie Kirkland; third row, firefighter and EMT Josh Scott, EMT Bobbi Jo Brantingham, EMS Coordinator Carolyn Leyman, Lt. Zack Himes, Capt. Tom Ewing and Safety Officer Dayl Doyle. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

WINONA--The Winona Fire Department has received new upgrades to its ambulance made possible by the generosity of the community.

"On behalf of the Winona Fire Department, we want to thank all the groups individuals, and especially our communities for their continuous efforts and support of the Winona Fire Department, and the fire services within the county," said Fire Chief George Brantingham.

Partially funded through a $40,000 Ohio Bureau of Workman's Compensation Safety Intervention Grant, obtained through the joint efforts of the fire department and the Butler Township trustees, the powered cot and load system will allow department to more efficiently and safely assist residents while helping to prevent back injuries, which Brantingham noted are amongst the most common experienced by EMTs in the line of duty. The remainder of the total $62,452.34 for the equipment and installation was covered through funds raised by the department's bi-annual pancake breakfast and chili cookoff, donations from Salem Eagles 316, the Goshen Butler Community Fund, Lisbon VFW Post 411, Washingtonville VFW Post 5532, the Leetonia American Legion, Salem AMVETS Post 45 and Nick Mlinarcik, and fundraising from the Cruisin' Crew's car show last April.

Brantingham explained that "basically all of last year's fundraising" had gone into the purchase, and that the department wouldn't have been able to raise the necessary funding without the community's support.

"We had to raise over $20,000 and that's where all of you came in. We really couldn't have done it without you," said Brantingham.

Lt. Zack Himes explained that while a standard cot leaves EMTs to lift not only the weight of the patient but of the cot itself when loading them into the ambulance, the new powered cot takes that weight with a hydraulic system which can lift up to 700 pounds. Similarly, the powered load system locks into the new cot and does the work of supporting it as it collapses and bringing it into the ambulance where it is locked into place, more fully securing the patient in the event of a crash. Himes also said that the battery powered cot could do roughly 20 to 25 lifts per charge, and that it automatically charges while docked in the truck.

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