Lifeguard Ambulance began emergency operations Thursday morning in Brown County, taking over for Allegiance Ambulance. At 9:00:01 a.m., Lifeguard was officially on duty, waiting for their first call. The service switched a little earlier than the planned January 1st date to avoid complications during what could be a busy time of year with emergencies related to New Year’s Day parties and other festivities.
A relatively quiet morning, their first call for service came at 9:34 a.m., an ICU patient to be transferred from Brownwood Regional Medical Center to Abilene Regional Medical Center. Before that, newly hired crew members prepared to board their new vehicles and eventually to their stations, which are now located on Coggin Avenue in Brownwood (directly across from the Allegiance Ambulance station), on Early Blvd. in Early (behind Moseley Real Estate), and in Bangs (in the former Allegiance station).
According to Lifeguard’s Chief of Operations Joshua Spencer, the company plans to open an ambulance station in May, Texas to service the northern portions of Brown County. An agreement is being worked out with the May Volunteer Fire Department to add on to the current fire station to provide office and sleeping quarters for Lifeguard.
Spencer stated that the company has been working approximately four months to get things ready for operations in Brown County by securing leases, buying new equipment and supplies and hiring employees in Brown County.
“It’s exciting to see this come to be, to see the trucks actually roll out on the first day,” said Spencer. “All the work, it’s now tangible.”
Spencer said that Lifeguard officials, including Brownwood EMS Chief Chris Furry, held a “locker room” type talk with employees, encouraging them for the day and reminding them of the new era in service, and that things will be different and better under the leadership of Lifeguard.
He stated that the transition between the two companies, former ambulance service Allegiance and Lifeguard, was very smooth. “Allegiance has been very good support through all of this, they have been a great partner,” said Spencer.
Corporate officers, including three from Florida and one from Houston County in Texas, have come to help the local office get off the ground. Spencer explained that these officers, EMS Chiefs from other locations, are actually riding along with ambulance crews for the first three days to shadow their work and help them with any difficulties, getting things off to a new standard of service and care.
Furry explained that the dispatch for Lifeguard is located in Birmingham, Alabama and offers a new standard of care for 911 callers. “They are actually Emergency Medical Dispatchers, callers will actually receive care from the dispatchers until the ambulance gets there, when possible,” said Furry. He explained that dispatchers can give instructions on how to give CPR and other medical advice to callers.
Taking on the new position as EMS Chief of Lifeguard, according to Furry, has been enjoyable. “It’s been fun. I have gotten to travel to Santa Rosa County in Florida where Josh is based out of, and to Birmingham, Alabama to see the corporate offices and dispatch.” Furry stated he was very impressed with the Lifeguard dispatch offices.
For now, Lifeguard will have one ambulance stationed in Early, one in Bangs and two of the new ambulances along with the backup ambulances at the Brownwood station. The Brownwood station is equipped with an administrative office, crew workstations, sleeping quarters, supply room and an open bay for trucks to be maintained and cleaned.
Pictured above, Lifeguard ambulance 701 rolls out on its first call. Below are photos of the Brownwood station and crew members.
Four new ambulances were ready for action in front of the Brownwood station on Thursday.
EMT Blaine Hannah, EMT Brandon Salomon and Houston County EMS Chief Brad Baucom ready ambulance 704 for calls.
Pictured above are EMS Chief Chris Furry and EMT Robert Lehman.
Pictured above is the crew workstation at the Brownwood station.
