DARLINGTON, S.C. (WBTW) – About a year and a half ago the Darlington Firemen Rescue Squad purchased a new ambulance.
Anna DeWitt, an advanced EMT explained why this truck is different, “There is no walk through or window between the front to the back… there’s no communication from the driver and the attendant.”
The cab of the truck is separated by a storage area. When the squad received the retired critical care truck, volunteers were hesitant about using it.
“Nobody wants to run out of it because they feel it’s not safe,” DeWitt adds. “We have had episodes where we have had a combative patient or a patient has become combative in the back.”
Two months ago DeWitt suggested installing a security camera system as a preventive measure.
“If I had a combative patient… I might not be able get to a radio or to the phone to call for help. So, this allows the driver to monitor the back of the ambulance the whole time and also to hear everything that’s going on,” said DeWitt.
The rescue squad transports patients including those with psychiatric needs. The live feed from the cabin was hardwired into the truck for the safety of the person in the back.
“Nine times out of ten we don’t have a minute’s trouble out of a patient, but there is that one time that something will happen and we, you know, the safety of our members is very important to us,” DeWitt adds. “If that one chance were to ever come about, whether is once a year. Or once every two years– we would like our members to be safe.”
Rescue 1 of the Darlington Firemen Rescue is in full rotation and able to help the EMS responders. Since the camera installation members of the squadron feel safer and use the truck frequently.